H.R. 2084: Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025

The Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025 aims to address the impact of wildfire smoke on wine grapes. The bill designates the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Research Service, to conduct extensive research on this issue. The specific actions to be taken include:

Research Objectives

• Identifying Compounds: The research will focus on identifying the chemicals found in smoke that affect wine grapes.
• Methodology Development: It aims to establish standard methods for sampling and testing wine grapes that have been exposed to smoke. This includes developing quicker and more affordable screening methods.
• Creating a Database: A reliable database will be established to track background levels of smoke compounds that occur naturally in wine grapes.
• Risk Assessment Tools: The bill will seek to develop tools and methods that either reduce or eliminate smoke exposure risks for wine grapes.
• Barrier Studies: There will be investigations into compounds that could protect wine grapes from smoke compounds.

Collaboration

The Secretary of Agriculture will coordinate this research in collaboration with land-grant colleges and universities located in California, Oregon, and Washington. These institutions have previously conducted studies on how smoke exposure affects wine production practices.

Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes an appropriation of $6.5 million each year from 2026 through 2030 for research-related expenses, with funds remaining available until fully spent.

Relevant Companies

• DEO (Diageo plc): As a major producer of alcoholic beverages, including wine, Diageo may be impacted by findings from the research, which could affect sourcing and production practices.
• SWX (Ste Michelle Wine Estates): This company, which produces various wines, may need to adapt its processes based on new guidelines or methodologies developed through the research.