Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
Rep. Neguse Introduces Western Wildfire Support Act to Speed Up Detection and Recovery
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is being reviewed by several House committees. It was recently sent to a subcommittee for further study. The bill is actively moving through the initial steps of consideration.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- The bill directs federal agencies to speed up the deployment of wildfire detection technology, including sensors, cameras, satellites, and drones, in areas at high risk for wildfires. It also requires annual forums for companies developing new fire technology to meet with wildland fire managers.
- Indian Tribes would gain eligibility for financial assistance to acquire slip-on tanker units, a portable firefighting tool, expanding access that previously only covered local governments. The bill also requires guidance on how to mobilize these units during wildfire response.
From policy text
“Section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ``and Indian Tribes'' after ``local governments''”
View in full text - When a fire is started by military training or operations, the Department of Defense would be required to reimburse state agencies for fire suppression costs. States would submit itemized requests, and DoD would pay from its operations and maintenance budget.
From policy text
“Each reciprocal agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall provide for the reimbursement of the State agency that is a party to the agreement for fire suppression services provided by the State agency as a result of a fire caused by military training or other planned actions carried out by the Department of Defense”
View in full text - The bill creates permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams to handle the dangerous aftermath of wildfires, including removing dead trees, stabilizing hazardous materials, preventing erosion, and stopping the spread of invasive species for up to one year after a fire is contained.
From policy text
“the Secretary concerned shall establish 1 or more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams (referred to in this section as a ``BAER Team'') to coordinate immediate post-wildfire emergency stabilization and erosion planning efforts”
View in full text - A new Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account would be created in the U.S. Treasury, funded at up to $100 million per year, to pay for ecosystem restoration, reforestation, watershed repair, and fixing damaged infrastructure on federal and some non-federal land after wildfires.
From policy text
“There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter for the account established by subsection (a) such sums as are necessary to carry out the activities described in subsection (d), not to exceed $100,000,000”
View in full text - FEMA would be able to fund state-run websites that guide disaster survivors through available recovery resources, listing federal, state, and local assistance options and explaining mitigation alternatives for sequential hazards like post-wildfire flooding.
From policy text
“The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may enter into cooperative agreements to provide funding or technical assistance to a State agency designated or established under subsection (c) to establish, update, or operate a website to provide information relating to post-disaster recovery funding and resources”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
Introduced in House
Related News
2 articles
Cortez Masto reintroduces legislation to prevent wildfires
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto reintroduced the Western Wildfire Support Act to fund firefighting equipment like sensors and cameras, create training programs, and support recovery. The bill requires the DoD to reimburse states for fires caused by military operations.
Updates on public lands, new land purchases, federal legislation
The Senate subcommittee recently considered the Western Wildfire Support Act, which proposes increasing funding and training for federal and local firefighters to mitigate wildfire risks in the West and protect neighborhoods from encroaching forest fires.
Related Bills
2 billsWildfire Aerial Response Safety Act
Mar 25 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
Feb 4 — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
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