Sponsors (6)
The bill shifts more wildfire response and preparedness costs to the federal government—easing fiscal and operational burdens on state, local, and Tribal responders and improving public safety—while increasing federal spending and creating risks of moral hazard, unequal treatment for pre‑enactment incidents, and delays or limits from rulemaking and eligibility rules.
State and local governments (and the communities they serve) would pay less of the bill for major wildfire and fire-management costs because the federal government increases its cost share (including a floor of 75% for post‑enactment appropriations and additional higher shares when criteria are met).
Communities and first responders would get faster, more reliable assistance and better preparedness capacity—improving firefighting, mitigation, and public safety—because higher cost‑shares and predeployment reimbursement make resources and personnel more available when fires strike.
State, local, and Tribal governments can be reimbursed for predeploying emergency assets, reducing out‑of‑pocket preparedness costs and making proactive staging of resources more financially feasible.
Millions of dollars in increased federal reimbursements would raise federal outlays for disaster response, increasing budgetary pressure on taxpayers and potentially requiring spending offsets or revenue increases elsewhere.
Higher federal reimbursement and broader eligibility for predeployment could create moral hazard—reducing local incentives to invest in prevention and encouraging more frequent predeployment or claims—which may raise long‑term costs and reduce mitigation efforts.
The provision applies only to appropriations made after enactment, so recent disasters and costs would not qualify, producing unequal treatment across incidents and jurisdictions.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Sets a 75% minimum Federal cost-share for fire management assistance, requires FEMA rulemaking on raising shares, and allows predeployment reimbursement.
Official title: Modify the fire management assistance cost share, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 16, 2025 by Alejandro Padilla · Last progress January 16, 2025
Sets a floor on FEMA’s Federal cost share for fire management assistance and directs FEMA to create rules and policy changes to make it easier to get increased federal funding and reimbursements. It requires a minimum 75% Federal share for eligible fire-management assistance for funds appropriated after enactment, mandates a rulemaking within three years to define when the President may increase that share, and makes predeployment of State, local, and Tribal assets eligible for reimbursement consistent with major disaster/emergency rules. The bill mainly affects State, local, and Tribal governments and emergency responders by increasing potential Federal support for wildfire response and clarifying when and how additional Federal cost-share or reimbursements for predeployment are available.