Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025

Bill Number: H.R. 1923
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Emergency Management
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Last Updated: 2025-09-17T14:24:39Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025 aims to implement specific recommendations from the September 2023 Report of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. It focuses on enhancing wildfire prevention, response, recovery, and public health protection by improving workforce training, firefighter support, smoke monitoring, and mitigation technologies across federal agencies.

Key Provisions

The bill is structured into four titles, each addressing distinct aspects of wildfire management. It authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026–2035 (or shorter periods for some sections) to fund these initiatives.

Title I: Workforce Development

Middle Fire Leaders Academy (Sec. 101): Requires the Forest Service Chief, in coordination with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, to establish an academy within one year of enactment. It provides rapid training and certification for emerging wildfire leaders (federal and non-federal) and expanded training for managers on beneficial fire use (e.g., prescribed burns). Authorizes $10 million annually.
Wildfire Workforce Grant Program (Sec. 102): Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants within six months to eligible entities (e.g., community colleges, nonprofits) for educational/vocational programs in wildfire-related fields like fire science, emergency management, and resilience planning. Authorizes $10 million annually.

Title II: Wildland Firefighter Support

Fire Service Retention and Retirement Portability (Sec. 201): Expands federal retirement benefits for wildland firefighters under the Federal Employees' Retirement System by including them in the "firefighter" definition (previously limited to non-wildland fires). Allows credit for prior service with breaks (up to 24 months) if employees elect and pay back contributions. Permits retention of enhanced benefits during non-federal service (e.g., with Tribal governments) and enables job-sharing between federal and Tribal positions, even at higher levels.
Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program (Sec. 202): Requires the Interior Secretary to develop a program within six months to assist families of injured or deceased firefighters and support personnel. Covers notifications, travel reimbursements, case management, benefit information, and data collection on assistance quality. Defines "next of kin" by priority (e.g., spouse, children). Authorizes $1 million annually; does not alter existing line-of-duty death benefits.

Title III: Wildfire Smoke and Public Health

National Smoke Monitoring and Alert System (Sec. 301): Mandates NOAA, in coordination with USDA, Interior, EPA, and CDC, to establish a real-time national system for wildfire smoke forecasts and alerts, including in urban areas. Expands sensors, satellite use, personnel, and equipment; creates county-level alerts based on particulate matter; integrates data into weather systems and apps like AirNow. Authorizes $32 million annually.
Health Risk Assessment for Wildfire Smoke Exposure (Sec. 302): Requires the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (within NIOSH) to complete a two-year assessment of health risks from wildfire smoke for workers, covering exposure levels, chemicals, vulnerabilities, and mitigation effectiveness. Follows with best practices publication within six months. Authorizes $1 million annually through 2028.

Title IV: Fire Mitigation and Technology

Improvements to Wildfire Forage Loss Programs (Sec. 401): Amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to expand livestock forage disaster assistance to include losses from prescribed fires, beneficial fires, and resource-managed wildfires.
Improvements to FEMA Programs (Sec. 402): Updates the Stafford Act to allow excess management cost funds for broader disaster preparation/mitigation (available for five years); includes secondary events (e.g., floods) from wildfires in declarations for three years; recommends eligibility for fire assessments regardless of incident timing; adds wildfire-specific guidance to FEMA's Public Assistance Guide (e.g., debris removal, water toxicity); reviews and updates cost-effectiveness criteria for wildfire mitigation projects (e.g., defensible space, nature-based solutions). Requires a GAO study on management costs within 180 days.
Wildland Dynamic Risk Mapping Program (Sec. 403): Directs NOAA, with NASA, USGS, USFA, universities, and labs, to develop and annually update dynamic risk maps for wildland-urban areas, incorporating environmental changes, remote sensing, and ground monitoring. Authorizes $15 million annually through 2030.
Improvements to Grant Programs (Sec. 404): Requires Interior, Agriculture (Forest Service), FEMA, SBA, and EPA Secretaries/Administrators to simplify applications, reduce burdens, provide technical assistance/outreach, and review barriers for community wildfire risk reduction and post-fire recovery grants within 90 days.
Joint Office of the Fire Environment Center (Sec. 405): Establishes a NOAA-led office within one year, with branches for technology, data, analysis, education, and more. Provides real-time data/tools for mitigation, response, public health, and recovery; develops a common operating platform integrating AI and public health data. Governed by a 12-member board (federal, state, non-federal reps); staffed by a director and up to 100+ personnel. Authorizes $150 million annually.
Interagency Data Collaboration Environment (Sec. 406): Expands USFA's National Emergency Response Information System to include prescribed fires and non-structural wildfires; creates a public "Wildfire Digital Data Center" as a research repository for fire data, impacts, and best practices, ensuring open access and FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable). Authorizes $15 million annually.
Requirements Related to Payment Timing (Sec. 407): Amends multiple laws (e.g., Agricultural Credit Act, Stafford Act, Small Business Act) to mandate payments/loans/grants within 90 days of approval for wildfire-related restoration, watershed protection, mitigation, debris removal, and disaster loans for nonindustrial private forest landowners.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Retirement and Benefits: Broadens the Federal Employees' Retirement System (5 U.S.C. §8401) to equate wildland firefighters with structural firefighters for enhanced benefits and service credit; amends the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. §5323) to preserve benefits during Tribal service.
Disaster Assistance: Modifies the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. §§401, 501, 203, 404, 407, 408) to extend declarations for wildfire aftermaths, allow excess funds for mitigation, speed up payments, and prioritize wildfire-specific guidance/criteria.
Agricultural and Economic Programs: Updates the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. §9081) and Agricultural Credit Act (16 U.S.C. §§2203, 2206) to cover beneficial/prescribed fires in forage aid and accelerate restoration payments; amends SBA disaster loans (15 U.S.C. §636(b)) for faster disbursement.
Data and Monitoring: Expands existing systems like AirNow, Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program, and National Emergency Response Information System without creating entirely new frameworks.

No additional funds are authorized for Stafford Act amendments beyond existing appropriations.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Increases coordination and resource demands on agencies like NOAA, USDA Forest Service, Interior, EPA, FEMA, CDC, and USFA through new offices, expanded monitoring, and data sharing. Provides dedicated funding (totaling hundreds of millions annually) for training, technology, and personnel, potentially improving efficiency in wildfire response but requiring interagency collaboration.
Citizens: Enhances public safety via better smoke alerts, health assessments, and risk maps, reducing exposure risks in communities. Speeds up aid for wildfire victims (e.g., faster loans/grants for recovery), benefiting rural landowners, livestock owners, and urban residents in fire-prone areas. Improves workforce training, potentially leading to more effective firefighting and lower long-term costs from disasters.
International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned; focuses on domestic U.S. wildfire management.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Wildland Firefighters and Support Personnel: Gain expanded retirement portability, casualty assistance, and training opportunities.
Government Agencies and Officials: Including Forest Service, Interior (e.g., BLM, NPS), NOAA, EPA, FEMA, USFA, NIOSH, and Education Department; must implement new programs, share data, and provide technical support.
Communities and Landowners: Wildfire-prone residents, Tribes, states, and localities benefit from simplified grants, risk reduction tools, smoke alerts, and faster recovery funding.
Educational and Nonprofit Entities: Eligible for grants to train wildfire professionals.
Livestock Owners and Private Forest Landowners: Access improved forage disaster aid and expedited restoration payments.
Public Health and Research Communities: Gain from smoke assessments, data repositories, and health-focused technologies.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Introduces timelines (e.g., 90-day payments, one-year establishments) that could lead to litigation if unmet; expands definitions (e.g., "firefighter") and creates enforceable mandates for data sharing and best practices without overriding agency ownership of data. Ensures compatibility with existing systems to minimize conflicts.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's powers under the Commerce Clause (regulating interstate disasters/environment) and Spending Clause (authorizing funds); no apparent First Amendment, due process, or federalism issues, as it involves voluntary grants and interagency coordination while respecting Tribal sovereignty in job-sharing.
Political: Addresses escalating wildfire threats amid climate change, with bipartisan sponsorship (e.g., from California, Florida, Colorado, Arizona representatives). Promotes equity by including non-federal/Tribal workers and urban smoke impacts, potentially influencing future disaster policy debates on funding priorities.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]

Cosponsors (5)

Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]

Recent Actions

2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
2025-03-07: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, 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.
2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, 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.
2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, 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.
2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, 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.
2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, 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.
2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, 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.
2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, 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.
2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, 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.
2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, 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.
2025-03-06: Introduced in House
2025-03-06: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-06 — PDF (56 pages)