Bill · S. 1701· Senate(119-S-1701)
STORM Act
- Introduced
- 5/8/2025
- Last activity
- 5/8/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Ted Budd
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "STORM Act," aims to allow the use of health care workforce platforms during declared emergencies. It enables the President to enter into voluntary agreements with certified private technology platforms that partner with credentialed independent contractor health care workers. The Act allows for the coordination of state licensure waivers so that out-of-state workers can respond to emergencies more quickly. It also establishes liability protections for these workers and platforms during authorized activities. Finally, the President is required to submit annual reports to Congress regarding the use of these licensure waivers.
Yes
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+6
The bill facilitates faster deployment of healthcare workers to areas affected by emergencies through licensure waivers.
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+5
The bill enhances disaster response capabilities by leveraging healthcare workforce platforms during declared emergencies.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+3
The President is required to submit annual reports to Congress regarding the use of licensure waivers.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-2
The bill allows the President to coordinate state licensure waivers, which can overlap with state-level professional regulatory authority.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Surge Capacity: The bill utilizes health care workforce platforms to facilitate health care workforce surge capacity during an emergency (Section 2, subsection (a)(2)(B)).
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Faster Emergency Response: The Act allows for the facilitation of State licensure waivers to prioritize the expedited deployment of qualified independent contractor health care workers to areas affected by an emergency (Section 2, subsection (c)(2)(B)).
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Streamlined Deployment via Waivers: The President may coordinate with States to facilitate a waiver of licensure requirements for out-of-state independent contractor health care workers responding to an emergency (Section 2, subsection (c)(1)).
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Liability Protection for Workers and Platforms: Independent contractor health care workers or health care workforce platforms engaging in authorized activities are not liable for injury or damage to a person or property, provided they comply with the Act (Section 2, subsection (e)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Liability Exceptions: The liability protections do not apply in cases involving willful misconduct, gross negligence, or bad faith (Section 2, subsection (e)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+6
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Increase States Rights-2
- 5/8/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.