This legislation, known as the Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2025, aims to provide financial assistance to combat pine beetle outbreaks on nonindustrial private forest land. It amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to establish new programs for both landowners and timber service businesses. For owners of nonindustrial private forest land, the bill authorizes payments covering up to 85 percent of the total cost for implementing various outbreak response measures, such as timber harvesting, prescribed burning, or insecticide treatment. Timber service businesses can receive payments for up to 50 percent of their eligible itemized costs, including labor, equipment, and materials, incurred during these response efforts. Eligibility for these payments requires the land to have had tree cover before the outbreak, be in a designated natural disaster area, and have confirmed pine beetle infestations. Furthermore, the legislation amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to allow the Secretary to make emergency loans to nonindustrial private forest landowners. These loans, covering at least 75 percent of estimated costs, are specifically for carrying out pine beetle outbreak response measures. Owners who receive both a loan and a cost-share payment can apply the cost-share amount directly to their loan principal. The bill also permits the Secretary to provide supplemental grants to State, Tribal, and local governments to assist with response and repair efforts related to pine beetle damage.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Agriculture and Food
Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-2872| Senate
| Updated: 9/18/2025
This legislation, known as the Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2025, aims to provide financial assistance to combat pine beetle outbreaks on nonindustrial private forest land. It amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to establish new programs for both landowners and timber service businesses. For owners of nonindustrial private forest land, the bill authorizes payments covering up to 85 percent of the total cost for implementing various outbreak response measures, such as timber harvesting, prescribed burning, or insecticide treatment. Timber service businesses can receive payments for up to 50 percent of their eligible itemized costs, including labor, equipment, and materials, incurred during these response efforts. Eligibility for these payments requires the land to have had tree cover before the outbreak, be in a designated natural disaster area, and have confirmed pine beetle infestations. Furthermore, the legislation amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to allow the Secretary to make emergency loans to nonindustrial private forest landowners. These loans, covering at least 75 percent of estimated costs, are specifically for carrying out pine beetle outbreak response measures. Owners who receive both a loan and a cost-share payment can apply the cost-share amount directly to their loan principal. The bill also permits the Secretary to provide supplemental grants to State, Tribal, and local governments to assist with response and repair efforts related to pine beetle damage.