The Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act would classify harmful algal blooms as a "major disaster" under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the federal law that governs emergency aid and recovery funding. This change would allow communities experiencing harmful algal blooms to access the same federal disaster assistance programs currently available for other natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and droughts. The bill was introduced in March 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. By expanding the definition of disasters to include algal blooms, the legislation aims to provide local governments and affected communities with federal resources to respond to and recover from these environmental events, which can damage water supplies, fisheries, and public health.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.