Fix Our Forests Act
Rep. Curtis Pushes Bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act to Speed Up Wildfire Prevention Projects
The Fix Our Forests Act has been approved by the Senate committee and is now waiting for a vote by the full Senate. It is currently placed on the legislative calendar and is actively moving forward. There are no other scheduled actions at this time.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- The bill designates high-risk "fireshed management areas" across the country where the government can speed up forest thinning, brush clearing, and other projects to reduce wildfire danger. These areas cover the top 20% of firesheds most at risk, and the designations are exempt from standard environmental review requirements.
From policy text
“The designation of a fireshed management area under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969”
View in full text - A new Wildland Fire Intelligence Center would be created within one year to provide real-time wildfire prediction, data sharing across agencies, and decision support for firefighters and communities. An 18-member board from across federal agencies would govern the center.
From policy text
“Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall establish a joint office, to be known as the ``Wildland Fire Intelligence Center'', to serve Federal and non-Federal entities through the functions described in subsection (d).”
View in full text - Courts would face new limits when hearing lawsuits against forest management projects, including a requirement to weigh wildfire risks before blocking projects. Claims must be filed within 150 days, and courts must consider whether delays would cause "significant increases in wildfire risk or severity."
From policy text
“the short- and long-term effects of proceeding with the covered agency action, as compared to delaying or limiting such covered agency action, including the potential for significant increases in wildfire risk or severity and significant threats to the health of the ecosystem.”
View in full text - New community wildfire defense grants can now fund retrofitting homes to resist fire, creating defensible space around buildings, and hardening evacuation routes. The bill also broadens who counts as an "at-risk community" eligible for federal help.
From policy text
“the retrofit, modification, or maintenance of a structure to improve resistance to fire”
View in full text - A Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program would give support to families of firefighters killed, critically injured, or made ill in the line of duty, including travel reimbursement and access to case managers.
From policy text
“Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program, to be known as the ``Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program'', to provide assistance to the next-of-kin of--”
View in full text - Indian Tribes get expanded roles in forest management, including new authority for prescribed burns on federal land, inclusion in good neighbor agreements, and tort claims protection for Tribal employees doing forest work on behalf of the Forest Service.
From policy text
“an employee of an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization that enters into an agreement, contract, or compact under subsection (b) shall be considered an employee of the Forest Service while carrying out activities and projects on behalf of the Forest Service”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
State Impacts
Milestones
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 212.
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-74.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Related News
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Fix Our Forests Act divides environmental community
The bill would govern how the federal government manages 200 million acres of forest. It includes provisions for forest thinning and limits judicial review by shortening the statute of limitations for lawsuits from six years to 150 days, aiming to move projects past 'red tape' more quickly.
Is Fix Our Forest Act a fix or a free pass for loggers?
The Fix Our Forests Act would dramatically change environmental review processes, streamlining projects in fire-prone areas. Critics in Vermont call it a 'Trojan Horse' for logging, while proponents argue it is essential to protect forests from catastrophic wildfires and other disasters.
With the 'Fix Our Forests Act', Sen. Hickenlooper hopes to jump start a new era of forest management and wildfire prevention
Introduced in the Senate in April 2025, the bill aims to improve forest management practices across the West. It includes a 'categorical exclusion' for projects up to 10,000 acres and establishes a new Wildfire Intelligence Center to coordinate federal responses to blazes.
Related Bills
1 billSource Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Fix Our Forests Act
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