Sponsors (7)
The bill directs a GAO study to recommend ways to streamline cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation funding and authority, which could improve coordination and enable more fuel‑reduction work but may delay near‑term actions and add administrative burdens or federal resource costs while recommendations are developed and implemented.
State, local, and Tribal governments (and residents on Tribal and adjacent lands) would get clearer, actionable recommendations to streamline cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation funding and authority, improving intergovernmental collaboration and raising the rate of treatments.
Federal land management agencies (e.g., USFS, BLM, NRCS, FEMA) and state/local partners could gain improved access to mitigation funding and coordinated authority, making it more feasible to carry out additional fuel‑reduction and defensible‑space projects that lower wildfire risk.
Taxpayers and governments would benefit from a GAO review that identifies inefficient or duplicative authorities so federal wildfire mitigation dollars can be better targeted and possibly deliver higher value.
State and local governments could experience delays in implementing some mitigation actions because the bill relies on a GAO study and recommendations that may take up to two years, slowing immediate on‑the‑ground work.
Local and state project sponsors could face new administrative steps or conditions from adopted recommendations, creating additional compliance costs and slower funding delivery for some mitigation projects.
Taxpayers and federal employees could see federal resources diverted to conduct the GAO study and to implement its recommendations, and further changes might require additional appropriations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Comptroller General to study federal programs, rules, and authorities that enable or inhibit cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation and report recommendations to Congress within two years.
Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study of Federal programs, rules, and authorities that help or hinder completing wildfire mitigation across Federal and non‑Federal ownership boundaries. The study must evaluate whether changes would increase capacity or access to funding for Federal land management agencies, specific federal partners (NRCS, FEMA, U.S. Fire Administration), States, local governments, and Tribal governments, and must assess activities carried out under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act provision cited; a report with findings and recommendations must be delivered to two congressional committees within two years of enactment.
Introduced June 11, 2025 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress June 3, 2026