Sponsors (4)
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Multiple amendments to 16 U.S.C. 7303: (b)(3) is edited to add pathogens and to require addressing standardized monitoring questions and indicators; (c)(3)(A) is amended to add a clause requiring inclusion of a Federal Government staffing plan to support collaborative processes; (d)(2) is amended to add considerations including use of innovative implementation mechanisms (e.g., conservation finance agreements, good neighbor agreements under 16 U.S.C. 2113a), reducing uncharacteristic wildfire risk or increasing ecological restoration across land ownerships including State, Tribal, and private land and within the wildland-urban interface, and enhancing watershed health and drinking water sources; additional minor alterations to paragraph (3) and subsection (e)(3) formatting are made; and (f)(6) is amended to strike an existing authorization amount for FY2019–FY2023 and insert an authorization applying to fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter (inserted dollar amount text in provided section is malformed).
Redesignates existing subsection (j) as subsection (k) and inserts a new subsection (j) establishing a County Stewardship Fund in the Treasury, setting deposit rules, availability, and annual county payments equal to 25 percent of receipts from applicable stewardship contracts.
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
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced July 7, 2025 by Val Hoyle · Last progress July 7, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House