Congress·Passed House·H.R. 471

House Passes Fix Our Forests Act to Speed Up Forest Thinning and Limit Wildfire Lawsuit Delays

Fix Our Forests Act

View on Congress.gov

Part of: Federal Push to Expedite Wildfire Prevention and Forest Health Projects

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

279–141

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Sets up “fireshed” high-risk zones on Forest Service, BLM, and Tribal lands to focus wildfire prevention work.
Speeds up approvals for projects like thinning, prescribed burns, fire breaks, and removing dead or risky trees in those zones.
Creates a new Fireshed Center and public online map to track fire risk, past treatments, planned projects, permits, and costs.
Makes it harder and faster-deadline to sue over these wildfire projects, and limits when courts can pause work.
Adds community help: easier grant applications, research on fire-resistant building, power-line vegetation rules, seed supply plans, and family help for injured or killed firefighters.

EnvironmentClimate ChangeInfrastructureTechnology

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(9)

Housing Assistance

Neutral

Child Tax Credit

Neutral

Homeowner

Neutral

Renter

Neutral

Small Business Owner

Neutral

Gig Worker

Neutral

Union Member

Neutral

Farmer Rancher

Neutral

Tribal Member

Neutral

Positive Impacts(2)

Military Active

Helps

Federal Employee

Helps

Milestones

2 milestones20 actions

Mar 6, 2025Senate

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-27.

Jan 28, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate.

Jan 23, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jan 23, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333)

Jan 23, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333)

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Starting soon after the bill becomes law; designations apply during the first 5 years

Fireshed management areas are designated for the first 5 years based on highest-risk firesheds.

People in the highest wildfire-risk landscapes could see earlier prevention projects like thinning and fuel breaks.

After the bill becomes law (no fixed deadline stated)

Fireshed Center is jointly established by the Forest Service and the U.S. Geological Survey.

More shared wildfire and smoke prediction tools could reach local officials and communities to support planning and evacuations.

After the Fireshed Center is operating

Fireshed Registry website goes live with interactive maps and project status tracking.

Residents can see planned projects, timelines, and where fuels work happened; communities can use data for local wildfire protection plans.

Vote Results

10 votes

HousePassedPassageJan 23, 2025

On Passage

279

141

Democrat

64 – 141 · 10

Republican

215 – 0 · 3

View full roll call

HousePassedAmendmentJun 25, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 119-1 to strike carbon sequestration and ecosystem services prioritization from section 301 biochar demonstration projects.

219

206

Democrat

7 – 204 · 4

Republican

212 – 2 · 9

View full roll call

HouseFailedAmendmentSep 10, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 119-1 to strike carbon sequestration and ecosystem services prioritization from section 301 biochar demonstration projects.

209

224

Democrat

5 – 208 · 3

Republican

204 – 16 · 1

View full roll call

Related News

4 articles

Colorado Public Radio·10 months ago

With the 'Fix Our Forests Act', Sen. Hickenlooper hopes to jump start a new era of forest management and wildfire prevention

Sen. John Hickenlooper and a bipartisan group introduced the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act to improve management on federal lands. The bill aims to address the wildfire crisis by giving agencies tools to move at the speed and intensity of the problem, despite environmental concerns.

POLITICO Pro·about 2 months ago

Hearing on California wildfires looks to pressure Senate on forest bill

A House subcommittee held a hearing marking the anniversary of destructive L.A. wildfires to pressure the Senate to pass the Fix Our Forests Act. The legislation would expand forest thinning and ease environmental reviews for removing vegetation from utility rights-of-way.

Courthouse News Service·12 months ago

Feds move to expand logging in Pacific Northwest

The Republican-led Fix Our Forests Act mirrors executive orders to increase timber production by exempting logging from review under the National Environmental Policy Act. Conservationists argue the policy is based on the false premise that logging plays a major role in preventing fire.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Fix Our Forests Act

Bill NumberHR 471

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionCommittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-27.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(56)

D: 17R: 39

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.