Strategic Grazing to Reduce Risk of Wildfire Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1981
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-04: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T12:48:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Strategic Grazing to Reduce Risk of Wildfire Act aims to promote the use of livestock grazing on federal lands as an effective tool to lower the risk of wildfires. It directs federal agencies to create a coordinated plan for this purpose while ensuring compatibility with existing land management practices.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- "National Forest System" refers to lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture.
- "Public lands" means lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management under the Department of the Interior.
- "Secretary concerned" is the Secretary of Agriculture for National Forest System lands or the Secretary of the Interior for public lands.
- Strategy Development:
- Within 18 months of the bill's enactment, the relevant Secretaries must develop a strategy to use grazing for wildfire risk reduction, working with current grazing permit holders and consulting stakeholders.
- The strategy must address:
- Grazing on unused allotments (designated areas for livestock) during droughts, wildfires, or other disasters.
- Targeted grazing to remove excess vegetation (hazardous fuels) in high-risk areas, such as the wildland-urban interface (areas where human development meets wildlands) and other critical zones.
- Recommending grazing in technical support to communities and Native American tribes for their wildfire plans.
- Temporary permits for grazing to control invasive plants like cheatgrass (a non-native grass that increases fire spread), even if it exceeds normal limits on animal numbers or timing.
- Grazing for post-wildfire recovery and invasive species control.
- Use of modern tools like virtual fencing (technology to guide livestock without physical barriers).
- Avoiding conflicts with other land uses and aligning with existing management plans.
- Training federal workers on grazing management and technology.
- Partnerships with states, local governments, tribes, and firefighting groups, including cost-sharing under existing laws like "good neighbor" agreements (which allow collaboration between federal and non-federal entities for land treatments).
- Other relevant laws as identified by the Secretaries.
- Consultation Requirements: The Secretaries must seek input from states, local governments, Native American tribes, utility companies, firefighting agencies, land management groups, outdoor recreation and conservation organizations, and community members.
- Preservation of Existing Programs: The bill does not alter any ongoing livestock grazing activities authorized before its enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This legislation introduces a new mandate for developing a specific strategy on using grazing for wildfire mitigation, which was not previously required under laws like the Federal Land Policy and Management Act or the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act. It builds on these laws by emphasizing grazing as a proactive tool but does not modify core permitting, environmental review, or land use rules.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior will face additional planning and coordination responsibilities, potentially increasing administrative workloads but providing a framework for more efficient wildfire prevention. This could lead to better resource allocation for fuel reduction without needing new funding.
- Citizens: Communities near federal lands, especially in fire-prone areas, may benefit from reduced wildfire threats through lower fuel loads and invasive species control, potentially protecting homes, infrastructure, and public safety. Ranchers with grazing permits could gain opportunities for expanded or temporary use, supporting rural economies.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic federal land management.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: U.S. Forest Service (Department of Agriculture) and Bureau of Land Management (Department of the Interior).
- Livestock Grazing Permit Holders: Ranchers and operators using federal allotments, who will help shape and implement the strategy.
- Local and Tribal Entities: States, counties, Native American tribes, and communities in wildfire-risk areas, benefiting from consultations and potential partnerships.
- Fire and Utility Sectors: Firefighting agencies and utility companies, which could see improved hazardous fuel management near power lines or urban edges.
- Environmental and Recreation Groups: Conservation, sportsmen, and outdoor organizations, involved in consultations to balance grazing with ecological and recreational needs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill reinforces existing environmental laws by integrating grazing into wildfire strategies without overriding them, potentially streamlining approvals for targeted grazing under acts like the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. It emphasizes consultation, which aligns with requirements for tribal sovereignty and public input under federal land management statutes.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; it supports the federal government's property clause authority (Article IV, Section 3) to manage public lands for public welfare, including disaster prevention.
- Political: The legislation promotes bipartisan environmental stewardship by leveraging agriculture (grazing) for climate resilience, potentially bridging rural economic interests with urban wildfire concerns. It avoids controversial overhauls, focusing on collaboration to minimize opposition from conservationists wary of overgrazing.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-04: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2026-02-12: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
- 2025-06-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-06-05: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Strategic Grazing to Reduce Risk of Wildfire Act — issued 2025-06-05 — PDF (5 pages)