Tropospheric Ozone Research Act of 2026

This legislation directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a competitive grant program for research into the climate impacts of tropospheric ozone . Within 90 days of appropriations, the EPA must launch this program, awarding grants to eligible entities like universities and research organizations to study ozone's effects on global, regional, and seasonal temperatures, heat stress, crop losses, and ecosystem productivity. The research will investigate the role of specific ozone precursors, interactions with other pollutants, and natural processes, while also developing and updating climate models to better incorporate ozone's radiative forcing. A key provision involves strengthening and expanding tropospheric ozone and precursor monitoring infrastructure , ensuring all collected data is publicly available, and assessing both current and future ozone impacts. The EPA Administrator must collaborate internationally and submit a comprehensive report to Congress within four years, detailing findings on ozone's contributions, assessing mitigation options for specific precursors, and providing crucial policy recommendations . The bill authorizes $10.5 million for fiscal years 2027-2029, primarily for grants, and $1 million for FY2030 for the report preparation.