BRUSH Fires Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3553
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-05: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-16T13:45:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The BRUSH Fires Act (H.R. 3553) aims to assess how well current wildfire prevention methods work in shrubland ecosystems—dry, shrub-dominated areas prone to intense fires—to lower the chances of wildfires starting and to reduce damage to nearby communities. It focuses on improving understanding and strategies for these ecosystems, which include types like chaparral and sagebrush.
Key Provisions
- Study Requirement: The Secretary of Agriculture, through the Chief of the Forest Service, must complete a study within one year of the bill's enactment. The study evaluates wildfire mitigation methods used by the Forest Service to reduce fire risks and damage in shrubland ecosystems and adjacent communities.
- Study Elements:
- Assess the effectiveness and long-term durability of methods like managing hazardous fuels (e.g., creating strategic breaks in vegetation to slow fire spread) and maintaining healthy native ecosystems (e.g., controlling invasive plants or helping native shrubs regrow after fires).
- Review Forest Service policies on preventing accidental fire starts from people or structures, such as power lines that can produce embers (glowing bits of burning material carried by wind).
- Analyze conditions like weather, seasons, and terrain where these methods work best or worst.
- Identify barriers, such as administrative rules, operations, or budget limits, that hinder firefighters and managers from using these methods.
- Evaluate partnerships between the Forest Service and non-federal groups (e.g., local governments or private landowners) in protecting homes, roads, and other structures from embers, especially in the wildland-urban interface (areas where developed land meets wildland).
- Coordination and Consultation: The study must coordinate with other Forest Service experts (e.g., Shrub Sciences Laboratory) and federal agencies like the Department of the Interior to avoid duplicating efforts. It encourages input from non-federal experts, such as state or private wildfire specialists.
- Reporting: Within 90 days of completing the study, the Secretary must submit a report to key congressional committees (e.g., House and Senate committees on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Appropriations) and make it publicly available. The report includes:
- A summary of findings.
- Best practices for land managers to reduce fire risks.
- Recommendations for further research.
- A comparison of current Forest Service policies to the identified best practices.
- Suggestions for better collaboration with non-federal partners to enhance fire resilience and protect built environments.
- Definitions: Key terms are defined, such as "covered ecosystems" (specific shrubland types where fire management is challenging), "hazardous fuels management activity" (vegetation control to lower fire risk), and "wildland-urban interface" (referencing a prior law for consistency).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new, targeted study mandate without directly amending prior laws. It builds on existing authorities under laws like the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 by requiring evaluation of Forest Service practices but does not alter them. The main change is the creation of a structured, time-bound assessment to inform future policy, potentially leading to updates in wildfire management guidelines.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Forest Service and Department of Agriculture will need to allocate resources for the study, coordination, and reporting, which could strain budgets but improve interagency collaboration on fire prevention. It may lead to more efficient use of funds for high-risk shrubland areas.
- Citizens: Residents in communities near shrublands, particularly in fire-prone regions like California, could benefit from evidence-based strategies that reduce home and infrastructure damage, enhancing safety and property protection without immediate costs to individuals.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. ecosystems and federal land management.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: U.S. Forest Service (lead role), Department of Agriculture, and Department of the Interior (for coordination on shared wildfire efforts).
- Congressional Committees: House and Senate panels on Agriculture, Natural Resources/Energy and Mineral Resources, and Appropriations, which receive the report and may influence future funding or laws.
- Local and Non-Federal Entities: Land managers, firefighters, state/local governments, tribal groups, and private landowners in shrubland-adjacent areas, who could gain from partnerships and best practices.
- Communities and Residents: People in wildland-urban interfaces, especially in Western states with shrublands, facing higher wildfire risks.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill enforces accountability through deadlines and public reporting, promoting transparency in federal wildfire research. It aligns with existing environmental and public safety laws but adds a specific focus on understudied shrubland ecosystems.
- Constitutional: Falls within Congress's authority to oversee federal agencies and manage public lands under the Property Clause of the U.S. Constitution, without raising separation-of-powers issues.
- Political: Introduced by a bipartisan group of mostly California representatives, it addresses regional wildfire challenges amid growing climate concerns, potentially setting a precedent for ecosystem-specific studies that could influence national fire policy debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-05: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-03-05: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-03-05: Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
- 2026-02-10: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2026-02-03: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Building Resiliency and Understanding of Shrublands to Halt Fires Act — issued 2025-05-21 — PDF (7 pages)