Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026

The Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026 establishes a process for Congress to override a President's refusal to declare a major disaster when the Governor has requested one and the President acted against the Federal Emergency Management Agency's recommendation or established precedent. Under this bill, the President must submit a written explanation for such a refusal to congressional leaders within 24 hours, after which designated party leaders can introduce a special joint resolution to force a declaration. This resolution is designed to bypass standard committee reviews and limits debate in both the House and Senate to expedite a final vote on whether the disaster should be officially declared.