Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025
Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to study how wildfire smoke affects wine grapes and wine production. The research would focus on identifying which smoke compounds damage grapes, developing standard testing methods, creating a database of natural smoke levels in grapes, and finding ways to protect vineyards from smoke damage. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily targets wine producers in California, Oregon, and Washington—states frequently affected by wildfires.
It would also involve land-grant colleges and universities in these states that already study smoke's effects on wine production. The research could ultimately benefit vineyard owners dealing with wildfire season smoke damage. **Current Status:** The bill (HR 2084) was introduced by Representative Mike Thompson (D-California) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been voted on by the full House. It remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025This bill directs the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to conduct research relating to smoke exposure and wine grapes. This research must be done in coordination with land-grant colleges and universities that are located in California, Oregon, and Washington and have researched the effects of smoke exposure on viticulture and enology operations and practices.Specifically, ARS mustconduct research to identify the compounds responsible for smoke exposure,conduct research to establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing smoke-exposed wine grapes and smoke-affected wines,establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke exposure compounds that occur naturally in wine grapes,develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke exposure, andstudy compounds that can act as a barrier between wine grapes and smoke compounds.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.