The Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026 creates a process allowing Congress to override a Presidential decision to reject a governor's request for a major disaster declaration. When a President refuses to declare a major disaster either against the Federal Emergency Management Agency's recommendation or based on a recommendation that contradicts established precedent, the President must notify Congress in writing within 24 hours explaining the refusal. Either chamber of Congress can then introduce a joint resolution within 14 days to overturn the decision, with expedited procedures requiring committee action within 2 days and floor votes within a set timeframe (4 hours of debate in the House, 10 hours in the Senate). The bill affects disaster relief decisions made under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and applies to state governors seeking federal disaster assistance. No specific funding or timeline for implementation is specified beyond the congressional action deadlines related to individual disaster declarations.
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