Sponsors (22)
The bill aims to strengthen domestic infrastructure supply chains and shield manufacturers from most wildfire litigation to lower costs and stabilize service delivery, but it reduces victims' ability to recover damages and may weaken incentives for safety while shifting financial and legal risks onto taxpayers and communities.
Manufacturers and infrastructure providers (utilities, energy companies) face much lower litigation risk for wildfire-related claims, which makes it easier for suppliers to stay in the market and for providers to obtain equipment and maintain services at lower legal/insurance costs.
States and localities that prioritize domestic production of infrastructure components can improve reliability of critical services (power, water, telecom) and support local manufacturing jobs and economies where those components are made.
Using federal definitions for 'critical infrastructure' and 'manufacturer' clarifies which entities and equipment are covered, giving companies and regulators clearer legal scope and predictability.
People and communities harmed by wildfires (homeowners, rural communities) will have substantially reduced ability to recover damages because plaintiffs must prove a manufacturer's willful misconduct to succeed.
Utilities and manufacturers may face weaker incentives to fix negligence or design defects that raise wildfire risk, potentially increasing danger to public safety and property.
If private firms are shielded from paying wildfire-related damages, taxpayers and local governments could end up covering more cleanup and recovery costs.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Immunizes manufacturers of federally defined critical infrastructure equipment from wildfire‑related civil liability unless willful misconduct is proven.
Grants broad legal immunity to manufacturers of ‘‘critical infrastructure equipment’’ for losses tied to wildfires unless a plaintiff proves the manufacturer engaged in willful misconduct in design or production. It uses existing federal definitions of "critical infrastructure" and the critical manufacturing sector to identify covered manufacturers.
Official title: To make immune from liability any manufacturer of critical infrastructure for claims resulting from wildfire incidents, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 26, 2025 by Mariannette Miller-Meeks · Last progress June 26, 2025