Harmful Algal Bloom Disaster Relief Act

This bill would treat harmful algal blooms as a “major disaster” under the federal disaster law. That means if a bloom causes serious damage, the President could declare a major disaster so affected areas can access federal disaster assistance, similar to help after hurricanes or floods .

In simple terms, it adds “algal blooms” to the list of events that can trigger federal disaster aid when the damage is severe.

• Who is affected: Communities dealing with harmful algal blooms in lakes, rivers, or coastal waters.
• What changes: These events could qualify for a presidential major disaster declaration, opening the door to federal disaster assistance.
• When: Would apply after the bill becomes law; each declaration would be made case by case when damage is significant.