Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3609
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-26T17:11:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act aims to enhance community safety and resilience against wildfires by creating a federal grant program. It funds the development and implementation of local plans to prevent, detect, and respond to wildfires, while also requiring reports, studies, and updates to existing laws to improve coordination and resources for wildfire protection.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, through the U.S. Fire Administrator and in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service Chief, must create a grant program within one year of enactment. This program is separate from existing disaster relief grants under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
- Grants support either implementing projects from an approved "community protection and wildfire resilience plan" or developing such a plan.
- Plans must involve collaboration with local communities, governments, Indian Tribes, emergency responders, utilities, non-profits, and state agencies. They cover strategies like early detection technology, public education, evacuation planning, protecting vulnerable groups (e.g., elderly, children, disabled, homeless), hardening infrastructure and homes, creating defensible space (clearing vegetation around structures to reduce fire spread), land use planning, and building local capacity.
- Eligible recipients include states (including territories), Indian Tribes, local or regional governments (e.g., fire districts), volunteer fire departments, or collaborations among them.
- Grant limits: Up to $10 million for project implementation; up to $250,000 for plan development.
- Priorities: High-risk areas based on state wildfire hazard maps or federal maps.
- Requirements: Preference for local contractors and workers (e.g., via AmeriCorps); 25% non-federal cost share for projects (waivable or reducible, especially for low-income areas; can include loans or in-kind contributions); no cost share for plan development.
- Funding: $1 billion authorized annually for fiscal years 2025–2029.
- GAO Report (Section 4): Within one year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report on existing federal programs for wildfire community protection, including funding gaps and implementation barriers.
- GAO Study (Section 5): Within one year, GAO must assess certifying wildfire resilience plans for survivability levels, federal incentives for insurance companies to recognize such certifications, and metrics to assure insurers of community preparedness.
- Updating At-Risk Communities (Section 6): Amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to redefine "at-risk communities" as groups of homes and structures with basic infrastructure near federal lands. Requires FEMA to publish an updated map of these communities (including Tribal ones) within 180 days and every five years thereafter.
- Radio Communications Report (Section 7): Within two years, FEMA must report on radio frequency shortages, interoperability issues (ability of different agencies' radios to communicate), and solutions like new technologies or additional frequencies. It involves coordination with federal, state, local, and Tribal entities and includes a plan to ensure communication during large-scale wildfires.
- Amendment to Existing Grant Program (Section 8): Expands the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to include "structure hardening" projects, such as building flame- and ember-resistant modifications to homes, businesses, or adjacent areas (e.g., vegetation clearing around garages or fences) to reduce wildfire exposure.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003: Updates the definition of at-risk communities to focus on proximity to federal lands and infrastructure needs, removing prior requirements like shared community identity or basic services. Mandates periodic mapping.
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Community Wildfire Defense Grants): Broadens allowable projects to explicitly include structure hardening and modifications that protect against flames, embers, radiation, and nearby combustibles, beyond just vegetation management.
- These changes integrate wildfire resilience into broader federal frameworks without altering core disaster relief structures.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: FEMA and the Forest Service gain new responsibilities for grant administration, mapping, and reporting, potentially increasing workload but improving coordination on wildfire response. GAO's involvement ensures oversight of federal programs.
- Citizens and Communities: Residents in wildfire-prone areas (especially high-risk or low-income ones) benefit from funded protections like better evacuations, home hardening, and education, reducing property loss, injuries, and displacement. Vulnerable populations receive targeted support.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. wildfire management.
- Overall, it could lower wildfire damages and response costs by promoting proactive, community-led resilience, with $5 billion in potential funding over five years.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Eligible Entities: States, Indian Tribes, local governments, fire departments, and their collaborations, who can apply for grants to build or execute plans.
- Communities: Particularly those near federal lands or in high-risk zones, including Tribal communities, low-income areas, and vulnerable groups.
- Federal Agencies: FEMA (grant oversight), Forest Service (coordination), and land management agencies (e.g., for radio and mapping).
- Other Groups: Emergency responders, utilities, non-profits, local contractors, insurance companies (via certification incentives), and GAO (for reports and studies).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal support for state and local wildfire efforts without preempting state laws (e.g., defensible space definitions can align with stricter state rules). Cost-sharing waivers for low-income areas promote equity but rely on administrative discretion, potentially inviting challenges if unevenly applied.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the federal government's commerce clause authority over interstate disasters and spending power for grants; no apparent conflicts with states' rights, as it emphasizes collaboration and voluntary participation.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Sens. Padilla and Sheehy) signals broad support for wildfire funding amid rising climate-driven risks. It addresses gaps in existing programs (e.g., via GAO assessments), potentially influencing future appropriations and insurance policies, but implementation depends on congressional funding beyond authorizations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2026-01-08: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act — issued 2026-01-08 — PDF (15 pages)