FIRE SMART Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill changes EPA regulations to allow rural communities at high wildfire risk to use Drinking Water State Revolving Fund money to upgrade water systems for both drinking water and fire suppression, like bigger pipes, better storage, and improved distribution capacity.
• To qualify, a community must be located in a high-risk fire area as shown on official state or federal wildfire maps. The bill uses existing federal definitions of "rural" to target smaller towns that often lack the resources for major infrastructure upgrades.
• Priority for funding goes to communities that have already adopted a wildfire protection plan or taken steps to encourage homeowners to reduce fire risk on their property, rewarding proactive safety measures.
• Although the EPA has two years to formally update its regulations, the bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, meaning communities could start accessing the funding right away without waiting for the rulemaking process.