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Congress·In Committee·S. 350

Senate Bill Would Fund Large-Scale Forest Restoration and Community Fire Resilience Under Wildfire Emergency Act

Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025

8 months ago·View on Congress.gov
⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • Creates a Forest Service pilot to fund large forest restoration projects (often 100,000 acres or more) using deals that bring in private and local money.
  • Caps the pilot at 20 projects and up to $250 million total over 10 years, with no more than $50 million tied to any single project.
  • Sets up a Energy Department program with $100 million to help critical places (like hospitals, schools, fire stations, and water systems) keep power during disasters using microgrids and backup energy.
  • Expands home weatherization rules so fire- and heat-resistant materials can be included, and raises the typical per-home cost limit to $13,000 (inflation-adjusted).
  • Pushes faster rollout of wildfire detection tools (like cameras and sensors), plus training centers and workforce grants to grow the prescribed-fire and forest-restoration workforce.
EnvironmentEnergyInfrastructureLabor EmploymentRenewable Energy

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Positive Impacts(1)
Tribal Member
Helps

Milestones

3 milestones4 actions
Jul 17, 2025Senate

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Jul 17, 2025Senate

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.

Jan 30, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Jan 30, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within months after the bill is enacted and funded

Department of Energy starts the critical facilities and microgrid program

Critical facilities (like hospitals, water systems, and emergency centers) could begin applying for help to add back-up power, storage, and local microgrids that keep power on during wildfires and shutoffs.

After federal and state program guidance is updated following enactment

Weatherization projects can start including fire-resistant materials under updated rules

Eligible households could get weatherization work that also improves fire resistance, and programs could spend more per home on average (up to $13,000, inflation-adjusted).

After funding is appropriated for FY2025–FY2029 and the application process opens

Forest Service begins awarding national community capacity and land stewardship grants

Disadvantaged communities and Tribes could get up to $50,000 per year to plan, coordinate, and run local stewardship and wildfire resilience work tied to national forests/grasslands.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 350
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
D: 1R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.