Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act

house

senate

president

Introduced on September 23, 2024 by Jared Huffman

Cosponsors

Legislation Details

Establishes a community protection and wildfire resilience grant program.
Defines key terms including “Administrator,” “Chief,” “community protection and wildfire resilience plan,” “critical infrastructure,” “defensible space project,” “eligible entity,” and “program.”
Requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish the grant program within one year of enactment.
Grants are available to eligible entities for implementing or developing community protection and wildfire resilience plans.
Prioritizes funding for projects in areas with a high risk of fire or wildfire.
Grants for project implementation can be up to $10 million; grants for plan development can be up to $250,000.
Encourages the use of local contractors and labor for projects funded by the grants.
Requires a non-federal cost share of at least 25% for project implementation grants, with potential waivers for low-income communities.
Authorizes $1 billion annually for the program from fiscal years 2024 to 2028.
Mandates a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on federal wildfire protection programs and funding gaps within one year of enactment.
Requires a GAO study on community resilience plans and potential insurance incentives within one year of enactment.
Updates the definition of at-risk communities and mandates the creation of a map of these communities every five years.
Requires a report on radio communication issues related to wildfire management within two years of enactment.
Amends existing legislation to allow for structure hardening projects as part of the community wildfire defense grant program.

Last updated 12/17/2024

Establishes a community protection and wildfire resilience grant program.
Defines key terms including “Administrator,” “Chief,” “community protection and wildfire resilience plan,” “critical infrastructure,” “defensible space project,” “eligible entity,” and “program.”
Requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish the grant program within one year of enactment.
Grants are available to eligible entities for implementing or developing community protection and wildfire resilience plans.
Prioritizes funding for projects in areas with a high risk of fire or wildfire.
Grants for project implementation can be up to $10 million; grants for plan development can be up to $250,000.
Encourages the use of local contractors and labor for projects funded by the grants.
Requires a non-federal cost share of at least 25% for project implementation grants, with potential waivers for low-income communities.
Authorizes $1 billion annually for the program from fiscal years 2024 to 2028.
Mandates a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on federal wildfire protection programs and funding gaps within one year of enactment.
Requires a GAO study on community resilience plans and potential insurance incentives within one year of enactment.
Updates the definition of at-risk communities and mandates the creation of a map of these communities every five years.
Requires a report on radio communication issues related to wildfire management within two years of enactment.
Amends existing legislation to allow for structure hardening projects as part of the community wildfire defense grant program.