Sponsors (7)
The bill directs a GAO study to streamline cross-boundary wildfire mitigation funding and authorities to improve access and efficiency, but it risks delaying on-the-ground work, adding administrative burdens, and diverting oversight resources.
State, local, and Tribal governments and federal land managers will receive clearer recommendations to streamline cross-boundary wildfire mitigation funding and authorities, increasing access to federal mitigation dollars and enabling more fuel-reduction and defensible-space projects.
Taxpayers, state governments, and federal agencies will benefit from a GAO study that identifies inefficient or duplicative authorities so federal wildfire mitigation dollars can be better targeted and potentially deliver higher value.
State and local governments and residents in fire-prone areas could face delayed mitigation actions because the report and recommendations may take up to two years, slowing immediate projects and treatments.
Local and state governments implementing projects could incur additional compliance costs and slower funding delivery if the study's recommendations introduce new administrative steps or conditions to access funds.
Taxpayers and federal oversight priorities could be harmed because the GAO study will consume agency time and resources that might otherwise be used for active oversight, and implementing recommendations may require additional federal spending.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires GAO to study federal rules and programs affecting cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation and report recommendations to Congress within two years.
Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study Federal programs, rules, and authorities that help or hinder completing wildfire mitigation across Federal and non‑Federal land ownership boundaries. The study must assess whether changes would increase capacity or access to funding for Federal land management agencies, FEMA, NRCS, the U.S. Fire Administration, States, local governments, and Tribal governments, and must evaluate activities under a specified Healthy Forests Restoration Act provision. A report with findings and recommendations to simplify cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation must be delivered to two congressional committees within two years of enactment.
Introduced June 11, 2025 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress June 3, 2026