To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.
Congress proposes 24-hour wildfire suppression rule for high-risk National Forest lands
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Requires the Forest Service to use all available resources to try to put out wildfires within 24 hours of detection on high-risk National Forest lands.
- Says the Forest Service cannot block state or local firefighters from helping if they’re authorized to respond on those lands.
- Limits when fire can be used on purpose: only planned burns that follow the rules, and it must stop any planned burn that gets out of control.
- Limits backfires during a wildfire to orders from the incident commander or urgent safety needs, and requires resources to keep those fires controlled until out.
- Applies in areas of National Forest land that are in severe drought, at the highest national fire preparedness level, or in the top 10% for wildfire exposure risk.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-429, Part I.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articles
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—January 13, 2026
Roundup noting House action: H.R. 178 (wildfire suppression requirements) was reported (amended) by the House Natural Resources Committee (H. Rept. 119-429, Part I) on Jan. 8, 2026.
Bill introduced to require suppression of all US Forest Service fires
Background coverage of earlier similar legislation requiring the Forest Service to use available resources to extinguish wildfires within 24 hours, restricting prescribed fire use and backfires/burnouts.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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