Tim’s Act

Bill Number: H.R. 743
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Government Operations and Politics
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-03-07: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Last Updated: 2026-07-01T08:09:17Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act (H.R. 743), also known as "Tim's Act," aims to improve compensation, benefits, health support, and retirement options for federal wildland firefighters. It addresses recruitment and retention challenges by establishing fairer pay structures, premium pay for high-risk duties, and enhanced protections against job-related health risks, while ensuring parity with other federal firefighters.

Key Provisions

The bill introduces reforms across pay, benefits, health, retirement, and support services for federal wildland firefighters, defined as temporary, seasonal, or permanent employees at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) or Department of the Interior (DOI), including Tribal firefighters, who maintain fire qualifications and engage in wildland fire management activities.

Special Base Rates of Pay (Sec. 2): Establishes higher base pay rates for wildland firefighters under the General Schedule (GS) system, replacing standard rates with increases ranging from 42% (GS-1) to 1.5% (GS-15). These rates are basic pay for all purposes (e.g., locality adjustments) and apply similarly to wage-board (prevailing rate) employees. Effective after temporary salary increases end.

Incident Response Premium Pay (Sec. 3): Provides premium pay at 450% of the hourly base rate (up to $9,000 annually, capped at GS-10 step 10 for higher grades) for covered employees (wildland firefighters or certified support staff) deployed to "qualifying incidents" like wildfires, prescribed fires, or high-risk prepositioning (excluding quick-containment initial attacks). Deployment must be outside the duty station or to a field camp. Includes assessment and potential adjustments to maintain compensation levels; effective after temporary increases end.

Special Limitations on Pay (Sec. 4): Exempts premium pay for emergency wildfire suppression from aggregate pay caps under existing law (e.g., GS-15 step 10 or Executive Level II limits), allowing higher total earnings during deployments. Waivers possible at agency discretion; applies to prevailing rate employees. Effective January 2026, with interim rules for 2025.

Rest and Recuperation Leave (Sec. 5): Grants paid leave (used immediately post-incident, non-accumulable) for recovery after qualifying incidents, equivalent to annual leave hours. Intermittent workers receive equivalent pay. Policies set by USDA and DOI Secretaries; effective October 2025.

Health Provisions (Sec. 6):
Requires a public database tracking cancer and cardiovascular diseases from job exposures (updated yearly) and mitigation recommendations.
Mandates a mental health program by January 2026, including awareness campaigns, training, peer support, expanded stress management, and unlimited counseling for firefighters and families.
Provides 7 days of paid mental health leave annually (non-accumulable).
Directs the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) to recognize PTSD and stress-related injuries from firefighting, ensure long-term coverage, and expedite claims processing.
Allows partnerships with other entities for implementation.

Retirement for Firefighters (Sec. 7):
Credits service since 1989 for Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) if deductions are made or deposited.
Treats certain exposure-related diseases (e.g., from smoke or toxins) as disabilities for FERS annuities, reducing the waiting period from 18 to 12 months.
Includes overtime in basic pay calculations for retirement under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).
Adds wildland firefighters to special normal-cost retirement percentages.

Pay Parity for Federal Structural Firefighters (Sec. 8): Requires comparable pay, benefits, and bonuses for structural firefighters (e.g., those fighting building fires) within one year. Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must report on competitiveness after wildland pay scales are set.

Pay Adjustments and Other Matters (Sec. 9):
Mandates annual pay increases tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Requires a report on comparability to non-federal firefighters.
Provides hazardous duty pay for specific risks (e.g., prescribed fires, parachuting).
Establishes recruitment/retention bonuses (minimum $1,000, CPI-adjusted, post-fitness test, once yearly).
Offers housing allowances for deployments over 50 miles from home.
Creates a tuition assistance program (minimum $4,000 annually, reviewed for inflation) for permanent firefighters' education and career transition.

Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program (Sec. 10): DOI must develop a program within 6 months to support next-of-kin of injured or deceased firefighters and support personnel. Covers notifications, travel reimbursements, case management, benefits information, complaint mechanisms, and data collection on assistance quality. Does not alter existing death benefits; prioritizes next-of-kin (e.g., spouse first).

Continuing Accrual of Service for Firefighters (Sec. 11): Expands FERS "firefighter" definition to include wildland roles with rigorous physical demands, allowing service credit for prior wildland work (post-2003) despite breaks up to 24 months total, if elections and deposits are made. OPM must notify and assist eligible employees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code (government organization and employees) by adding new sections (e.g., 5332a for base pay, 5545c for premium pay, 6329e for leave, 5547a for pay limits) and modifying others (e.g., retirement definitions in 8331 and 8401, premium pay exclusions in 5547).
Overrides temporary pay boosts from prior laws (e.g., Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) with permanent structures.
Introduces first-of-its-kind database for exposure-related diseases and unlimited mental health services, expanding OWCP coverage for psychological injuries.
Broadens retirement credits and overtime inclusion, previously limited to structural firefighters, to wildland roles.
Ensures premium and overtime pay bypasses traditional caps during emergencies, potentially increasing total compensation significantly.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: USDA (e.g., Forest Service) and DOI (e.g., Bureau of Land Management) face higher personnel costs for pay, benefits, and programs, but improved recruitment/retention could enhance wildfire response capacity. Requires new administrative systems (e.g., database, assistance program) and inter-agency coordination.
Citizens: Better-equipped federal firefighters may improve wildland fire management, reducing risks to communities in fire-prone areas. Taxpayers bear costs through federal budgets, but long-term savings possible from fewer vacancies and health claims.
International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though enhanced U.S. wildland fire capabilities could support cross-border fire cooperation (e.g., with Canada or Mexico).

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Wildland Firefighters and Support Staff: Primary beneficiaries through higher pay (up to 42% base increase plus premiums), health protections, leave, retirement credits, bonuses, housing, and education aid; includes ~15,000 seasonal/permanent workers at USDA/DOI and Tribal programs.
Agencies and Officials: USDA and DOI Secretaries oversee implementation; OPM handles pay/retirement rules; OWCP processes expanded claims.
Families and Next-of-Kin: Gain from casualty assistance, mental health support, and long-term disability coverage.
Other Federal Firefighters: Structural firefighters receive parity adjustments.
Congress and Taxpayers: Committees (e.g., Oversight, Natural Resources) receive reports/notifications; funds programs via appropriations.
Non-Federal Firefighters: Indirectly affected by comparability reports, potentially influencing state/local standards.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens federal employment law by classifying wildland roles equivalently to structural firefighters for benefits, potentially setting precedents for other high-risk occupations. Ensures compliance with Fair Labor Standards Act by excluding certain premiums from overtime/minimum wage calculations. Requires OPM regulations for implementation, with discretion for agency waivers and adjustments.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over federal compensation (Article I) and spending; no apparent conflicts with equal protection or due process, as changes apply uniformly to defined roles.
Political: Addresses bipartisan concerns over firefighter shortages amid worsening wildfires due to climate change, named after Tim Hart (a fallen firefighter) to honor service. Could influence budget debates with estimated costs (not specified in bill) for pay hikes and programs; promotes equity between wildland and structural roles, potentially reducing turnover in remote/rural areas.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

Cosponsors (15)

Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert [R-PA-8], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

Recent Actions

2025-03-07: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
2025-01-28: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
2025-01-28: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
2025-01-28: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
2025-01-28: Introduced in House
2025-01-28: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (41 pages)