STORM Act

This bill lets the federal government team up with private apps and websites that match health workers with jobs during declared emergencies. The President could approve these platforms and use them for at least a year at a time to quickly find and send doctors, nurses, and other licensed workers where they are needed most . It also helps states temporarily accept out‑of‑state licensed health workers faster, using model rules that include background checks and proof of qualifications, and it encourages coordination with state authorities to fit state rules . The White House would report each year on how often these license waivers were used and what challenges came up .

To protect people who step up in a crisis, the bill gives limited legal protection to independent contractor health workers and the platforms when they follow the rules while responding to a federal emergency. This protection does not cover willful misconduct, gross negligence, or bad faith. In some federal-led emergencies, these private workers and platforms could be treated like federal employees for certain claims that arise from their response work, within set limits and regulations .

• Who is affected: Independent contractor health workers (like traveling nurses and doctors), private staffing platforms, and state agencies coordinating emergency care .
• What changes: Faster federal use of staffing platforms; quicker state license waivers with background checks; yearly federal reports; targeted legal protections during federal emergencies .
• When it applies: During declared emergencies, especially those where the federal government has primary responsibility for the response .