STORM Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6539
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-03T09:05:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to improve health care surge capacity during declared emergencies by allowing the federal government to partner with private technology platforms that connect independent health care workers to affected areas.
Key Provisions
- Adds a new section to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act creating rules for "health care workforce platforms," defined as private technology companies that partner with licensed independent contractor health care workers and can quickly increase staffing during emergencies while operating on their own otherwise.
- Authorizes the President to certify these platforms and enter voluntary agreements (lasting at least one year) to use them during emergencies.
- Permits the President to work with states to temporarily waive state licensing rules for out-of-state workers deployed through these platforms, provided the workers hold a valid license in at least one state and are responding to the emergency.
- Requires the President to create model procedures for waivers that include background checks, qualification checks, and fast deployment, which states may adopt.
- Mandates annual reports to Congress detailing the number of workers deployed under waivers, how long they served, and any problems encountered.
- Provides liability protections for platforms and workers when acting under the law, with exceptions for willful misconduct or gross negligence; in certain federal-led responses, these parties are treated like government employees for legal claims.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill creates a new framework for using private platforms and temporary licensing flexibility during emergencies, expanding beyond current disaster response rules in the Stafford Act by formalizing public-private partnerships and federal coordination on state licensing barriers.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: It gives the President new authority to coordinate with states on licensing and to enter agreements with private companies, potentially speeding up federal and state emergency responses.
- On citizens: It could increase the availability of health care workers in disaster areas by reducing licensing delays for qualified out-of-state professionals.
- On international relations: No direct effects are outlined.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal government (President and agencies involved in emergency management).
- State governments (particularly licensing boards and emergency officials).
- Private health care workforce platforms and the independent contractor health care workers they engage.
- Health care facilities and residents in areas affected by emergencies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill introduces liability shields and treats private actors as government employees under the Federal Tort Claims Act in specific cases, which raises questions about the scope of federal authority over state licensing. It relies on voluntary agreements and model procedures rather than mandates, and requires the President to issue regulations for implementation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-12-09: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-12-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Strategic Teams for Organized Response Mobilization Act — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (7 pages)