Skip to content
Govbase
Govbase
Congress·In Committee·S. 3785

Senate Bill Targets Grand Canyon and Kaibab Forest Rebuilding After 200,000-Acre Wildfires

North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026

about 2 months ago·View on Congress.gov
Part of: Congress Fast-Tracks Wildfire Recovery and Restoration for Federal Lands

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill allows the National Park Service and Forest Service to use faster hiring and buying processes to speed up repairs in the Grand Canyon and Kaibab National Forest. These 'emergency authorities' are meant to help the area recover from two massive 2025 wildfires that burned over 200,000 acres.
  • The work will focus on rebuilding more than 100 destroyed structures, including the Grand Canyon Lodge, and restoring the natural landscape. This includes planting native seeds, stopping soil erosion, and removing dangerous trees to make the parks safe for tourists and wildlife again.
  • To support the local economy, the government is required to prioritize hiring local businesses and companies owned by Native American Tribes. The agencies must also consult with the 11 Tribes that have ancestral homelands in the Grand Canyon region throughout the rebuilding process.
  • To prevent the waste of taxpayer money, the agencies must send a report to Congress every six months. These reports must list all contractors, explain every dollar spent, and flag any instances of fraud or cost overruns.
  • These special powers will last for five years or until the cleanup is finished. If another fire happens in the same area during this time, the agencies can ask Congress for a one-year extension to complete their work.
Energy EnvironmentInfrastructure Transportation

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

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

State Impacts

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

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 5, 2026Senate

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

Feb 5, 2026

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Up to 5 years after enactment

Emergency contracting authority expires

The special fast-track purchasing powers end either five years after the bill becomes law or when the agencies declare recovery complete, whichever comes first. Any remaining work would return to normal, slower government contracting processes.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026

Bill NumberS 3785
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.