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Congress·Passed House

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

Also known as: Fix Our Forests Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
✓ Review
✓ House

279–141

Senate
President

Impacts

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

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

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
HouseFailedAmendmentDec 18, 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.

208
214
Democrat
1 – 209 · 6
Republican
207 – 5 · 10
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentJan 22, 2026

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.

136
291
Democrat
0 – 215 · 1
Republican
136 – 76 · 8
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentJun 4, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 119-1 to allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve the removal of hazardous trees near power lines on federal land without requiring a timber sale, easing a serious threat that has in the past been a major cause of destructive wildfires.

213
213
Democrat
211 – 0 · 4
Republican
2 – 213 · 8
View full roll call
HousePassedAmendmentSep 10, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 119-1 to allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve the removal of hazardous trees near power lines on federal land without requiring a timber sale, easing a serious threat that has in the past been a major cause of destructive wildfires.

224
208
Democrat
6 – 206 · 4
Republican
218 – 2 · 1
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentDec 11, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 119-1 to allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve the removal of hazardous trees near power lines on federal land without requiring a timber sale, easing a serious threat that has in the past been a major cause of destructive wildfires.

211
219
Democrat
207 – 6 · 3
Republican
4 – 213 · 5
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentDec 18, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 119-1 to allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve the removal of hazardous trees near power lines on federal land without requiring a timber sale, easing a serious threat that has in the past been a major cause of destructive wildfires.

204
217
Democrat
1 – 209 · 6
Republican
203 – 8 · 11
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentMar 27, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 119-1 to allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve the removal of hazardous trees near power lines on federal land without requiring a timber sale, easing a serious threat that has in the past been a major cause of destructive wildfires.

199
214
Democrat
199 – 3 · 14
Republican
0 – 211 · 9
View full roll call

Related News

4 articles
Colorado Public Radio·9 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.

C=
POLITICO Pro·28 days 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.

C=
Courthouse News Service·11 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

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.