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Creates a coordinated national program to fund and run at least seven regional wildland fire research centers based at universities or land-grant colleges. The centers will do research and modeling, share data openly under FAIR principles, support technology and workforce development, and coordinate with federal science agencies, state and tribal partners, and fire management agencies. A national coordination board and regional advisory boards will govern and advise the network, and the law authorizes multi-year funding for the centers and the coordination board through FY2026–FY2030.
The bill directs substantial, sustained federal investment and coordination to improve wildland fire research, predictive tools, and workforce development—benefiting researchers, communities, and agencies—while imposing taxpayer costs, potential regional inequities, and added administrative and implementation burdens that may slow or complicate access and delivery.
Researchers and students at selected universities gain sustained federal funding and career-pathway training via seven regional research centers funded about $60–64M annually (FY2026–FY2030).
Communities and land managers receive improved predictive tools and data (fire behavior, smoke, post-fire flood risk) to inform operational decisions and reduce harm to people and property.
Establishes a National Center Coordination Board and clarifies which federal agencies and committees are involved, reducing duplication and improving alignment among federal agencies, regional centers, and operational needs.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending of roughly $61M/year for the regional centers plus about $1M/year for the coordination board through FY2030, which could divert funds from other priorities.
New statutory definitions and added compliance requirements increase administrative burden and complexity, making it harder for small research groups and tribal programs to apply for and manage grants.
Concentrating centers at selected institutions risks advantaging certain regions or universities and may limit direct local investment where needs differ, producing uneven benefits across communities.
Introduced February 20, 2025 by Ben Ray Luján · Last progress February 20, 2025