Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025

Key Points

• Congress would direct the Agriculture and Interior Departments to pick at least 8 universities to host regional wildland fire research centers, with at least one center in each major U.S. region (including Alaska, California, and the Southeast).
• The plan starts with at least 2 pilot centers as soon as practical after the law takes effect (if money is provided), then adds the rest within 2 years after the pilot begins.
• These centers would focus on tools that help fire managers in real life, like better fire-and-smoke prediction models, near-real-time monitoring, and safer ways to do land work that lowers wildfire risk.
• A national coordination board and local regional advisory boards would help avoid duplicate work, set shared data rules, and hold regular public meetings so communities, states, and Tribes can give input.
• The bill authorizes funding for the centers from fiscal year 2026 through 2030, plus separate funding for the national board, to support research, data sharing, training, and needed equipment or construction.