Sponsor
Ruben Gallego
Senator · D-AZ
Senator · D-AZ
The bill directs studies and a congressional report to improve coordination and funding access for cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation—potentially accelerating on‑the‑ground hazard reduction—while imposing modest study costs and risking regulatory changes or funding shifts that could affect landowners and other programs.
State, local, Tribal land managers and nearby communities will get clearer, evidence-based guidance to coordinate cross-boundary wildfire mitigation, improving the effectiveness of fuel reduction and community protection.
Federal agencies and state governments could gain improved access to mitigation funding and identify program changes (via the GAO study and congressional report) that unlock resources for on-the-ground fuel reduction and hazard treatments.
Policymakers will receive a targeted congressional report within two years with evidence-based options to streamline relevant programs (e.g., NRCS, FEMA, US Fire Administration), which could speed implementation of cross-boundary treatments.
Local governments, rural communities, and landowners could face new regulatory requirements or reduced procedural protections if the study leads to expedited regulatory changes for cross-boundary treatments.
Taxpayers and state governments may experience opportunity costs if recommendations shift existing funds toward mitigation or require new appropriations, reducing resources available for other programs.
The GAO study will use federal resources and staff time, producing a cost with no guarantee that policymakers will act on its recommendations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs the GAO to study barriers and authorities for cross‑boundary wildfire mitigation and report recommendations to Congress within two years.
Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to study barriers and authorities for completing wildfire mitigation work that crosses federal and non‑federal land ownership boundaries. The GAO must review federal programs, rules, and authorities that affect cross‑boundary work, evaluate whether changes would increase capacity or access to funding for federal, state, local, and Tribal entities, and assess activities carried out under a specific Healthy Forests Restoration Act provision. GAO must deliver findings and recommendations to two congressional committees within two years of enactment.
Introduced June 11, 2025 by Ruben Gallego · Last progress June 11, 2026