Wildfire Resilient Communities Act

This bill aims to lower wildfire risk and help communities prepare for fires. It tells federal land agencies to remove or reduce dangerous fuels (like dry brush and small trees) with tools such as prescribed burns and thinning, chosen to fit local conditions. Work is focused first near at‑risk towns and key watersheds, in places with very high fire danger, and in landscapes where fire naturally occurs. Projects should also support national goals: fire‑adapted communities, healthy, resilient landscapes, and safe, effective fire response. It requires the Treasury to transfer $30 billion to these agencies on the first October 1 after the bill becomes law; the money stays available until used, with up to 10% for planning and administration.

The bill adds $3 billion for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program for 2027–2031. It continues and updates a large, long‑term forest restoration program to include staffing plans and standard monitoring, encourage tools like conservation finance and Good Neighbor agreements, expand cross‑boundary work with State, Tribal, and private lands and the wildland‑urban interface, and emphasize watershed and drinking water protection. It also sets ongoing yearly funding beginning in fiscal year 2026 . The bill creates a County Stewardship Fund that pays counties where federal stewardship contracts take place. Each year, counties receive payments equal to 25% of receipts from those projects and may use the money for any local government purpose. The fund is financed by the greater of 25% of the appraised value of forest products sold (from the Treasury) or 25% of excess receipts from the contracts.

Key points

• Who is affected: People in and near wildfire‑prone areas and key watersheds; counties where federal stewardship projects occur; and land agencies and partners who carry out forest work across federal, State, Tribal, and private lands .
• What changes: $30B in dedicated funding for hazardous‑fuel work on federal lands; added funding for community wildfire grants; stronger, long‑term forest restoration efforts with cross‑boundary tools; and a new county payment fund tied to project receipts .
• When: $30B transfer on the first October 1 after the bill becomes law, with funds available until spent; community grants funded 2027–2031; ongoing program funding begins in FY2026; county payments occur each fiscal year .