ACRES Act

Bill Number: H.R. 204
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2026-03-04: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Last Updated: 2026-07-10T19:08:27Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The ACRES Act aims to improve the accuracy and transparency of reporting on hazardous fuels reduction activities—efforts to manage vegetation on federal lands to lower wildfire risks—by requiring standardized data collection and detailed annual reports from the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior.

Key Provisions

Annual Reporting in Budget Materials: Starting in the first fiscal year after enactment, the Secretaries must include a report in the President's budget submission detailing acres of federal land treated for hazardous fuels reduction in the prior year. Key details include:
Counting each treated acre only once, even if multiple activities occurred on it.
Breakdown by location in the wildland-urban interface (areas where human development meets wildlands), wildfire risk levels (high, moderate, low) at the start and end of the period, types of activities (e.g., in wildfire management for resource benefits or planned projects), cost per acre, region or unit, and effectiveness in reducing wildfire risk.
Public Transparency: Reports must be posted on the respective department websites (Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior).
Standardized Data Procedures: Within 90 days of enactment, the Secretaries must implement uniform tracking methods, including:
Regular reviews for data accuracy and timeliness.
Verification to ensure data matches actual activities.
Analysis of short- and long-term effectiveness in reducing wildfire risk.
Methods to separate acres inside versus outside the wildland-urban interface.
A follow-up report to Congress within two weeks describing these procedures and recommending policy changes to address tracking limitations.
GAO Study: Within two years of enactment, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must study implementation, including any reporting or tracking issues, and report findings to Congress.
Definitions: Clarifies terms like "hazardous fuels reduction activity" (e.g., mechanical treatments or prescribed burns, but not contract awards), "federal lands" (under Agriculture or Interior jurisdiction), "Secretary concerned" (Agriculture for national forests; Interior for public lands and national parks), and "wildland-urban interface" (per existing law).
Funding: No new funds are authorized; activities rely on existing appropriations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This act introduces mandatory, detailed annual reporting on hazardous fuels reduction that was not previously required in budget submissions under 31 U.S.C. § 1105. It also mandates new standardized data tracking procedures and a GAO review, enhancing accountability beyond current informal or inconsistent practices for monitoring wildfire prevention efforts.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: The Departments of Agriculture (e.g., U.S. Forest Service) and Interior (e.g., Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service) will face increased administrative burdens for data collection and reporting, potentially leading to more efficient resource allocation for wildfire prevention but requiring internal process changes without extra funding.
Citizens: Improved public access to data on treated lands, costs, and effectiveness could build trust in federal wildfire management, especially in fire-prone areas, and inform community planning in wildland-urban interfaces.
International Relations: No direct impacts, as the act focuses on domestic federal land management.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Agencies: Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior, and their sub-agencies managing federal lands.
Congress: Gains better data for oversight, budgeting, and policy decisions on wildfire risks.
Public and Local Communities: Residents in wildfire-vulnerable areas, environmental groups, and landowners near federal lands benefit from transparent reporting.
GAO: Tasked with independent evaluation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens compliance with existing budget transparency laws by adding specific wildfire-related requirements; the lack of new funding authorization avoids unfunded mandates issues but may strain agency resources.
Constitutional: No significant challenges, as it involves standard congressional oversight of executive agencies managing public lands under Article I powers.
Political: Promotes bipartisan interest in wildfire mitigation by emphasizing accountability and effectiveness, potentially influencing future appropriations and environmental policy without altering core land management authorities.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

Recent Actions

2026-03-04: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
2026-02-12: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
2025-01-22: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
2025-01-21: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-01-21: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H244-245)
2025-01-21: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H244-245)
2025-01-21: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 204.
2025-01-21: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H244-246)
2025-01-21: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2025-01-03: 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.
2025-01-03: 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.
2025-01-03: Introduced in House
2025-01-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Accurately Counting Risk Elimination Solutions Act — issued 2025-01-21 — PDF (8 pages)
Accurately Counting Risk Elimination Solutions Act — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (7 pages)
Accurately Counting Risk Elimination Solutions Act — issued 2025-01-22 — PDF (7 pages)