Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
The "Fire Innovation Unit Act of 2025" mandates the establishment of a public-private wildfire technology deployment and demonstration pilot program. Within one year of enactment, the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior are directed to create this program to advance new and innovative technologies for wildfire prevention, detection, communication, response, and mitigation. This initiative seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of wildfire management across various agencies. In carrying out the program, the Secretaries will consult with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and heads of covered agencies to identify key technology priority areas. These areas include innovations in hazardous fuels reduction , wildfire modeling , remote sensing , autonomous suppression systems , and community resilience . The program will connect selected private entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education with appropriate agencies for real-time, on-the-ground testing of these technologies during mitigation activities and training. The Secretaries are also tasked with defining clear criteria for evaluating technology success, focusing on effectiveness, scalability, and cost-efficiency. They will coordinate with agencies to ensure efficient deployment of scaled technologies, including through expanded public-private partnerships and multiagency contracting. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on deployed technologies, acquisition costs, outreach efforts, and recommendations for adoption, with the pilot program set to terminate seven years after enactment.
The "Fire Innovation Unit Act of 2025" mandates the establishment of a public-private wildfire technology deployment and demonstration pilot program. Within one year of enactment, the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior are directed to create this program to advance new and innovative technologies for wildfire prevention, detection, communication, response, and mitigation. This initiative seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of wildfire management across various agencies. In carrying out the program, the Secretaries will consult with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and heads of covered agencies to identify key technology priority areas. These areas include innovations in hazardous fuels reduction , wildfire modeling , remote sensing , autonomous suppression systems , and community resilience . The program will connect selected private entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education with appropriate agencies for real-time, on-the-ground testing of these technologies during mitigation activities and training. The Secretaries are also tasked with defining clear criteria for evaluating technology success, focusing on effectiveness, scalability, and cost-efficiency. They will coordinate with agencies to ensure efficient deployment of scaled technologies, including through expanded public-private partnerships and multiagency contracting. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on deployed technologies, acquisition costs, outreach efforts, and recommendations for adoption, with the pilot program set to terminate seven years after enactment.