Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

Legislation would support growers in California, Oregon, and Washington — three of the biggest wine-producing states in the country

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.-01), introduced the Smoke Exposure Research Act, legislation to better protect winegrape growers against wildfire smoke damage by strengthening research and risk management efforts at West Coast land-grant universities. The bill would authorize $32.5 million annually over the next five-year Farm Bill cycle to better understand the impacts of prolonged wildfire smoke exposure on vines and wineries and provide fair insurance products for growers.

California, Oregon, and Washington are leading states in winegrape production, but increased wildfires have cost the industry billions. Smoke from wildfires can damage winegrapes through prolonged exposure, which can be absorbed through thin grape skins and create an ashy taste known as “smoke taint,” potentially compromising the health, quality, and value of wine produced. The impact has been particularly acute for California’s 4,800 wineries and nearly 6,000 winegrape growers, who have seen significant property loss, loss of tourism, and loss of production due to smoke-exposed grapes. For example, the 2020 wildfires alone are estimated to have cost wineries and winegrape growers $3.7 billion both from immediate fire-caused losses as well as losses in future sales due to unharvested grapes exposed to wildfire smoke.

The legislation comes after President Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) briefly fired Agricultural Research Service (ARS) workers conducting critical research efforts on the harmful impact of wildfire smoke taint on winegrapes, including two researchers at University of California (UC), Davis and four other researchers. The researchers returned to work after the U.S. Department of Agriculture succumbed to significant public pressure to rescind these harmful cuts.

“California’s winegrape growers are essential to our national economy, but prolonged smoke exposure from increasingly frequent and catastrophic wildfires is threatening the long-term sustainability of their livelihoods,” said Senator Padilla. “The West Coast wine industry is more vulnerable than ever, yet President Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE are causing chaos by firing and rehiring UC Davis researchers who are making groundbreaking progress in studying these detrimental wildfire smoke impacts. You can’t see, smell, or taste smoke taint damage, which is why we must invest in emerging science-based research and solutions to protect growers, vintners, and consumers alike.”

“As climate chaos continues to fuel unprecedented wildfire seasons, blankets of dense, hazardous smoke threaten Oregon’s world-renowned winemakers and their workers,” said Senator Merkley. “We must invest in research so Oregon’s winegrowers understand wildfire smoke and its effect on grapes and wine production.”

“Winegrapes are essential to economies across our country, and states like California, Oregon, and Washington have been disproportionately exposed to wildfires leading to smoke exposure impacting our winegrapes,” said Representative Thompson. “Researching the impact that smoke has on our winegrapes and other crops is essential in advancing solutions that will protect these key economic drivers from future natural disasters.”

“Winegrapes are a major contributor to California’s economy, but with wildfire season now stretching nearly year-round, growers are facing an ongoing threat. Smoke exposure can ruin an entire harvest, leaving wineries and growers with huge losses. Research into how smoke affects crops is a necessary step toward developing ways to protect growers, preserve production, and keep California’s wine industry strong. I’m pleased to be working with my colleagues in the Senate to tackle this issue and ensure our farmers have the tools they need to adapt and recover,” said Representative LaMalfa.

“Wildfire smoke poses an increasing threat to the American wine industry, yet its impact on winegrapes is complex and influenced by multiple factors, including duration, intensity, grape variety, and stage of development. While significant progress has been made in understanding smoke exposure, critical research gaps remain. Continued investment in research is essential to provide growers and wineries with the information and tools needed to make timely, science-based decisions—ensuring the long-term viability of the wine industry and its vital contributions to the economy,” said Natalie Collins, President, California Association of Winegrape Growers and Co-Chair of the West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force.

Federal research on smoke exposure has never been formally authorized — despite the fact that increasingly frequent and catastrophic wildfires threaten the long-term sustainability of important winegrowing regions and the vintners, vineyards, wineries, and the communities they serve. The Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025 would provide more certainty by authorizing $32.5 million over five years to conduct research in coordination with UC Davis, Oregon State University, and Washington State University on the effects of smoke exposure on viticulture and enology operations and practices.

Specifically, the Smoke Exposure Research Act directs the the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to conduct research to:

• Identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint;
• Establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing smoke-exposed winegrapes and smoke-affected wines, including fast and inexpensive screening methods;
• Establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke taint compounds that occur naturally in winegrapes;
• Develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint.

The Smoke Exposure Research Act is supported by the West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force, including Allied Grape Growers, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Family Winemakers of California, Washington Winegrowers Association, Washington Wine Institute, and the Wine Institute, as well as Napa Valley Vintners and UC Davis.

Senator Padilla has fought hard to deliver relief to agricultural communities devastated by natural disasters. Yesterday, Padilla announced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve access to federal agriculture disaster programs. Last year, he led a bipartisan coalition of California members in urging the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to incorporate permanent disaster assistance for agricultural producers and communities in the Farm Bill. The letter called for the inclusion of Padilla, LaMalfa, and Thompson’s bipartisan Agricultural Emergency Relief Act, which would create a permanent structure at the USDA to provide relief for farmers who lost crops due to natural disasters. Padilla also introduced the Disaster Relief for Farm Workers Act alongside Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) to provide compensation for farm workers who lose out on work and pay due to extreme weather, public health emergencies, and other disasters. Previously, Padilla introduced a pair of bills to equip the USDA to better meet the needs of farm workers.

A one-pager on the Smoke Exposure Research Act is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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