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National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-3889| House 
| Updated: 6/10/2025
Kim Schrier

Kim Schrier

Democratic Representative

Washington

Cosponsors (2)
Janelle S. Bynum (Democratic)David G. Valadao (Republican)

Agriculture Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand the use of prescribed fire on lands managed by the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service, particularly in the National Forest System in the western and southeastern United States. It also seeks to acknowledge and support the long-standing practice of cultural burning by Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners, defining "prescribed fire" for specific resource management objectives. The bill grants the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture flexibility to use up to 15 percent of hazardous fuels management funds for various prescribed fire activities, including contracts, grants to State, Tribal, and local entities, and public outreach. Projects are prioritized based on criteria such as large contiguous areas, cross-boundary efforts, proximity to the wildland-urban interface, protection of Tribal trust resources, and areas with high wildfire risk. The Act mandates a 10 percent annual increase in the total acreage of Federal land treated with prescribed fire for nine consecutive fiscal years following enactment. Additionally, the Secretaries must develop regional operational strategies to address existing fire deficits and identify necessary staffing and funding resources. A Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program is established to fund landscape-scale projects, which must be consistent with restoration strategies covering at least 50,000 acres over a 10-year period and developed through a collaborative process. These projects must align with ecosystem restoration goals, include plans for smoke mitigation, and demonstrate potential cost savings and local economic benefits. Implementation is facilitated through authorization of long-term cooperative agreements and contracts (up to 10 years) with various eligible entities, including States, Tribes, and private organizations, for conducting prescribed fires on Federal land. The Act addresses human resources by providing hazard pay for Federal employees involved in prescribed fire, establishing dedicated multi-party task forces, and creating career pathways for seasonal firefighters, formerly incarcerated individuals, and veterans. New prescribed fire training centers, including Indigenous-led ones, are to be established where none currently exist, and training requirements for supervisory roles will be adjusted to reduce certification time. The bill also enhances interoperability by establishing mechanisms for non-Federal practitioners to be included in resource ordering and reimbursement systems. A significant provision extends liability protections to non-Federal entities engaged in prescribed fire under Federal supervision by treating them as Federal employees for the purposes of the Federal Tort Claims Act. Regarding environmental review, the Environmental Protection Agency is directed to coordinate with air quality agencies to provide guidance for "exceptional event" demonstrations, allowing prescribed fire smoke to be excluded from air quality violations under specific conditions. The Secretaries must also develop landscape-scale prescribed fire plans, ensuring compliance with environmental laws and engaging in government-to-government consultation with Indian Tribes. Finally, a national prescribed fire education program will be established to raise public awareness. The bill mandates annual reporting of prescribed fire accomplishments to a national database, offering financial assistance for States, and requires the Secretaries to submit annual implementation reports to Congress.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-3442
National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8557
National Prescribed Fire Act of 2024
Jun 10, 2025
Introduced in House
Jun 10, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
Dec 17, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2015
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-3442
    National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8557
    National Prescribed Fire Act of 2024


  • June 10, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • June 10, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, 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.


  • December 17, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2015
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • S 119-2015: National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-3889| House 
| Updated: 6/10/2025
The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand the use of prescribed fire on lands managed by the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service, particularly in the National Forest System in the western and southeastern United States. It also seeks to acknowledge and support the long-standing practice of cultural burning by Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners, defining "prescribed fire" for specific resource management objectives. The bill grants the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture flexibility to use up to 15 percent of hazardous fuels management funds for various prescribed fire activities, including contracts, grants to State, Tribal, and local entities, and public outreach. Projects are prioritized based on criteria such as large contiguous areas, cross-boundary efforts, proximity to the wildland-urban interface, protection of Tribal trust resources, and areas with high wildfire risk. The Act mandates a 10 percent annual increase in the total acreage of Federal land treated with prescribed fire for nine consecutive fiscal years following enactment. Additionally, the Secretaries must develop regional operational strategies to address existing fire deficits and identify necessary staffing and funding resources. A Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program is established to fund landscape-scale projects, which must be consistent with restoration strategies covering at least 50,000 acres over a 10-year period and developed through a collaborative process. These projects must align with ecosystem restoration goals, include plans for smoke mitigation, and demonstrate potential cost savings and local economic benefits. Implementation is facilitated through authorization of long-term cooperative agreements and contracts (up to 10 years) with various eligible entities, including States, Tribes, and private organizations, for conducting prescribed fires on Federal land. The Act addresses human resources by providing hazard pay for Federal employees involved in prescribed fire, establishing dedicated multi-party task forces, and creating career pathways for seasonal firefighters, formerly incarcerated individuals, and veterans. New prescribed fire training centers, including Indigenous-led ones, are to be established where none currently exist, and training requirements for supervisory roles will be adjusted to reduce certification time. The bill also enhances interoperability by establishing mechanisms for non-Federal practitioners to be included in resource ordering and reimbursement systems. A significant provision extends liability protections to non-Federal entities engaged in prescribed fire under Federal supervision by treating them as Federal employees for the purposes of the Federal Tort Claims Act. Regarding environmental review, the Environmental Protection Agency is directed to coordinate with air quality agencies to provide guidance for "exceptional event" demonstrations, allowing prescribed fire smoke to be excluded from air quality violations under specific conditions. The Secretaries must also develop landscape-scale prescribed fire plans, ensuring compliance with environmental laws and engaging in government-to-government consultation with Indian Tribes. Finally, a national prescribed fire education program will be established to raise public awareness. The bill mandates annual reporting of prescribed fire accomplishments to a national database, offering financial assistance for States, and requires the Secretaries to submit annual implementation reports to Congress.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-3442
National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8557
National Prescribed Fire Act of 2024
Jun 10, 2025
Introduced in House
Jun 10, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
Dec 17, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2015
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-3442
    National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8557
    National Prescribed Fire Act of 2024


  • June 10, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • June 10, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, 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.


  • December 17, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2015
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Kim Schrier

Kim Schrier

Democratic Representative

Washington

Cosponsors (2)
Janelle S. Bynum (Democratic)David G. Valadao (Republican)

Agriculture Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Natural Resources Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • S 119-2015: National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted