Congress·In Committee·H.R. 5652

Wildfire Recovery Act

Rep. Neguse Introduces Wildfire Recovery Act to Boost Federal Funding for Local Firefighting

4 months ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

The Wildfire Recovery Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is being reviewed by a House subcommittee. It is actively moving through the committee system, but no further votes or hearings have been scheduled yet.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

The bill guarantees the federal government will cover at least 75% of costs for fire management assistance, reducing the financial burden on state and local governments during wildfire response.
From policy text
“The Federal share of assistance under this section shall be not less than 75 percent of the eligible cost of such assistance.”
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States, local governments, and Tribal governments would become eligible for reimbursement when they move firefighting resources into position before a fire arrives, encouraging faster preparation.
From policy text
“predeployment of domestic assets by States, local, and Tribal governments may be eligible for reimbursement under such section 420.”
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FEMA has three years to write new rules spelling out when the federal government should pay even more than the 75% minimum. Those rules must include a way to measure how badly a fire is straining a local government's budget.
From policy text
“Such criteria shall include a threshold metric that assesses the financial impact to a State or local government from responding to a fire for which fire management assistance is being provided.”
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The cost-share changes only apply to money appropriated after the bill becomes law, meaning existing fire management funding arrangements stay the same.
From policy text
“The amendment made by subsection (a) shall only apply to amounts appropriated on or after the date of enactment of this Act.”
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Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

3 milestones3 actions

Dec 1, 2025House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Sep 30, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Sep 30, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Upon enactment

The 75% federal cost-share floor takes effect for all new wildfire funding

State and local governments immediately start paying no more than 25% of eligible fire management costs, freeing up local budgets for other needs during wildfire emergencies.

Within 3 years of enactment

FEMA completes new rules for when the federal share can go above 75%

States and local governments hit hardest by wildfire costs would have a clear process to request extra federal funding beyond the 75% floor, based on measurable financial strain.

Related News

2 articles

CPR News·over 3 years ago

U.S. House passes Neguse-backed wildfire and drought bill addressing firefighter pay, forest health and recovery dollars

The package includes the Wildfire Recovery Act, which would help local communities get resources needed to recover from wildfires by increasing the federal cost share for Fire Management Assistance Grants above 75 percent.

Colorado Newsline·over 3 years ago

House Passes Rep. Neguse’s Bipartisan Wildfire Recovery Act

The legislation increases flexibility in the federal cost share for Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) to bring in additional resources for communities as they rebuild from wildfire damage.

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