Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 582
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-21: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T08:05:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act aims to create a federal grant program to help communities prepare for and reduce the risks from wildfires. It focuses on funding plans and projects that build resilience, such as improving detection, evacuation, and infrastructure protection, especially in high-risk areas near federal lands.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms, including "community protection and wildfire resilience plan" (a collaborative strategy covering early detection, evacuation, infrastructure hardening, defensible space around homes and buildings, and education); "eligible entity" (states, Indian Tribes, local governments, fire departments, or groups of these); and "critical infrastructure" (essential services like utilities, transportation, and public safety systems vulnerable to wildfires).
- Grant Program Establishment: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service Chief, must set up the program within one year of enactment. It is separate from existing FEMA disaster relief programs.
- Grants support either implementing an existing resilience plan (up to $10 million per grant) or developing a new one (up to $250,000 per grant).
- Funds can cover diverse strategies like technology for alerts, protecting vulnerable groups (e.g., elderly, disabled), creating defensible space (clearing vegetation within 100 feet of structures), land-use planning, and building local capacity.
- Priority goes to high-risk areas identified by state maps or federal wildfire risk maps.
- Recipients must prefer local contractors and workers, including partnerships with groups like AmeriCorps.
- Cost-Sharing: Projects require a 25% non-federal match (waivable or reducible by FEMA), which can include cash, donations, or volunteer work. Low-income areas may use low-interest federal loans. Plan development grants have no match requirement.
- Funding: Authorizes $1 billion annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
- Reporting and Studies:
- Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report within one year on existing federal wildfire protection programs, funding gaps, and barriers to implementation.
- GAO must also study ways to certify communities for wildfire resilience (e.g., for insurance discounts) and metrics to assure insurers of risk reduction.
- Updating At-Risk Communities: Requires FEMA to update and map "at-risk communities" (homes and infrastructure near federal lands) every five years, including Tribal areas.
- Radio Communications Report: Within two years, FEMA must report on radio frequency shortages, interoperability issues (ability of different agencies' radios to work together), and solutions like new technologies or additional frequencies, in consultation with federal, state, Tribal, and local fire agencies.
- Other Requirements: Grants are limited to communities existing at enactment; plans can build on existing ones like community wildfire protection plans.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to broaden the definition of "at-risk communities" by removing specific population or zoning requirements, focusing instead on groups of homes and structures with basic services near federal lands.
- Amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021) to expand the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, allowing funds for "covered projects" like hardening structures against flames and embers (e.g., fire-resistant modifications to buildings, roofs, or adjacent areas) and reducing exposure to nearby fuels like vegetation or vehicles.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload and coordination for FEMA and the U.S. Forest Service in administering grants, mapping, and reporting. GAO will assess and recommend improvements to federal programs, potentially leading to more efficient wildfire funding. Authorizes significant new funding, which could strain budgets if not appropriated.
- Citizens: Enhances safety in wildfire-prone areas by funding evacuations, home protections, and education, potentially reducing deaths, property loss, and displacement. Vulnerable populations and low-income communities may benefit from tailored support and waived costs, improving equity in disaster preparedness.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. wildfire management.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Eligible Entities: States, Indian Tribes, local and regional governments (including fire districts), volunteer fire departments, and collaborative groups—these can apply for and receive grants.
- Communities: Residents in high-risk wildfire areas, especially near federal lands, including Tribal communities, who gain from resilience projects and updated risk mappings.
- Federal Agencies: FEMA (grant administration), U.S. Forest Service (coordination), and GAO (oversight and studies).
- Other Groups: Local first responders, utilities, non-profits, insurers (potentially incentivized by resilience certifications), and contractors benefiting from local hiring preferences.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal support for state and local wildfire efforts without overriding state laws (e.g., defensible space definitions can align with stricter state rules). Introduces flexibility in cost-sharing and waivers, which could face legal challenges if seen as unevenly applied, but promotes compliance through existing frameworks like FEMA loans.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the federal government's role in disaster relief and interstate commerce (wildfires affect national resources like forests). No apparent conflicts with states' rights, as it emphasizes coordination and voluntary participation; Tribal inclusion respects sovereignty.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Reps. Huffman and Obernolte) signals broad support for wildfire mitigation amid rising climate-driven fires. The $5 billion authorization over five years could spark debates on federal spending priorities, but the focus on local empowerment and insurance incentives may encourage adoption by reducing long-term disaster costs. GAO studies could influence future legislation by highlighting gaps.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-21: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and 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.
- 2025-01-21: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and 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.
- 2025-01-21: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and 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.
- 2025-01-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act — issued 2025-01-21 — PDF (15 pages)