Sponsors (7)
The bill aims to accelerate and better-target cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation by broadening and clarifying federal authorities and producing GAO guidance, at the trade‑off of added complexity, potential legal uncertainty, and new or shifted costs for taxpayers, governments, and private landowners.
Communities at risk (rural communities, homeowners, tribal-lands residents, and other nearby communities) would likely see faster, evidence-based hazardous-fuels reduction and cross‑boundary mitigation that lowers wildfire risk and reduces structure loss.
State, tribal, and local governments gain clearer access to multiple federal authorities to coordinate cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation, making joint projects easier to plan and execute.
Federal and non‑federal land managers would receive targeted analysis identifying which authorities and programs increase capacity or funding, informing policy changes to expand mitigation resources and improve planning.
Expanding eligible authorities and agencies may increase federal program spending or obligations, potentially raising costs for taxpayers if new projects are funded at scale.
GAO findings or subsequent statutory/regulatory changes could shift mitigation costs onto state and local governments or private landowners (homeowners), increasing local fiscal and private burdens.
Including many federal and nonfederal actors increases coordination complexity, which could slow implementation and shift administrative burdens onto state, tribal, and local partners.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires a GAO study and report on federal laws and programs that enable or inhibit cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation, with recommendations due within two years.
Requires the Government Accountability Office to study how federal programs, rules, and legal authorities help or hinder wildfire mitigation that crosses federal and non-federal land boundaries, and to recommend changes to improve coordination, funding access, and effectiveness. The GAO must deliver a report with findings and recommendations to relevant House and Senate committees within two years of enactment.
Official title: Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act
Introduced June 11, 2025 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress June 3, 2026