H.R. 903 — Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025

This section defines terms for the Act: (1) "Administrator" as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; (2) "extreme heat" as given the meaning through a rulemaking of the Administrator, in consultation with the heads of relevant federal agencies; (3) "Indian Tribe" as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304); and (4) "Native Hawaiian organization" as defined in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517).

This section establishes a grant program under the Clean Air Act for air pollution control agencies (i.e., state and local entities responsible for implementing Clean Air Act programs) to develop and implement programs supporting communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating about, and mitigating wildfire smoke and extreme heat. Eligible activities include (1) monitoring, interpreting, and communicating air quality data related to wildfire smoke and extreme heat; (2) community outreach in areas prone to poor air quality from particulate matter, ozone, or other wildfire smoke and extreme heat components; (3) deploying air quality monitoring equipment; (4) equipping public buildings with air filtration systems to serve as cleaner air spaces; (5) purchasing, storing, and distributing masks, N95 respirators, portable air filters, and other personal protective equipment; (6) subgrants or financing to public or private entities for protective gear or weatherization to mitigate air infiltration; and (7) other activities determined necessary by the EPA Administrator. The EPA Administrator must allocate grants via a formula considering state community vulnerability to wildfire smoke and extreme heat and proneness to related poor air quality. Such sums as are necessary are authorized to be appropriated.

This section directs the Administrator to establish, not later than 180 days after enactment, four Centers of Excellence for Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat at institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965) to conduct research on (1) public health effects—including on outdoor workers—of wildfire smoke emissions and extreme heat and (2) community responses to such emissions and heat events, with selection priority for institutions with relevant expertise, outreach experience, agency and community relationships, and location in impacted areas. It authorizes $10 million to the Administrator for the centers for FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter. Separately, this section directs the Administrator to conduct research, not later than 180 days after enactment, on health effects of wildfire smoke and extreme heat; personal and community interventions to reduce exposure and effects; improved monitoring and prediction tools; and implementation and communication strategies. It authorizes $20 million to the Administrator for such research for FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.

This section establishes a competitive grant program, to be administered by the Administrator not later than 180 days after enactment, to assist states, units of local government (including special districts such as air quality management districts or school districts), Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations in developing and implementing collaborative community plans to mitigate wildland fire smoke emissions and extreme heat. Grant applications must include a plan to collaborate with a public institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) or other research institution that has air quality expertise or dedicated research centers, relevant outreach experience, established relationships with relevant agencies and organizations, and is located in an area economically or environmentally impacted by wildfire smoke or extreme heat. The Administrator may provide technical assistance for applications or grant projects, and $50 million is authorized annually for FY2026 and thereafter.