Sponsors (2)
The bill extends and better aligns federal support for landscape and post‑wildfire restoration—benefiting rural communities and improving interagency planning—while concentrating resources around State‑prioritized projects and existing conservation rules, which may leave some communities behind, constrain certain activities, and raise program costs.
Rural landowners and communities gain access to federal support for post‑wildfire recovery and soil and water enhancement projects, improving local resilience and ecosystem recovery.
State and local governments get multi‑year continuity (through 2029) for planning and funding landscape restoration, enabling longer‑term projects and more predictable program administration.
Federal agencies (NRCS and Forest Service) and state/local partners will have improved coordination and use of forestry science, supporting better‑informed project design and implementation.
Individuals or communities not covered by State plans may be disadvantaged because projects tied to State priorities could be favored for funding or support.
Requiring consistency with the Roadless Area Conservation rule may restrict certain restoration, access, or treatment activities in roadless areas, limiting some project designs.
Expanded eligible activities and extended authorization increase federal program scope and duration, which could raise federal spending or require reallocating agency resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership to include wildfire recovery and resource enhancement, requires NRCS–Forest Service coordination, allows state-priority plans, and extends authority through 2029.
Official title: Reauthorize the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 15, 2025 by Michael F. Bennet · Last progress July 15, 2025
Expands and clarifies the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program to include wildfire recovery and activities to improve soil, water, and related natural resources; requires the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to coordinate formally with the Forest Service on forestry science and management plans; allows project selection to consider State forest action plans or similar priority plans; ensures Program activities are consistent with the Forest Service’s Roadless Area Conservation rule; and extends certain statutory expiration dates through 2029. The changes alter who may be consulted and how projects are prioritized, broaden eligible activities, and extend the program’s authorization, affecting the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and NRCS and state-level forestry planning efforts.