What does Preamble of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This bill, formally titled 'To direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to encourage and expand the use of prescribed fire on land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Forest Service,' aims to promote the use of prescribed fire. The bill directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to encourage and expand prescribed fire use on land managed by their respective departments. It emphasizes the use of prescribed fire on National Forest System units in the western and southeastern United States. The bill acknowledges and supports the long-standing practice of cultural burning by Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners.

What does DEFINITIONS. of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This section defines terms used throughout the Act. “Congressional committees” are specifically defined as committees from the Senate and House of Representatives involved in Energy and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Appropriations. “Federal land” includes land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and National Forest System land. A “landscape-scale prescribed fire plan” is a decision document prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act that covers specific units and analyzes environmental consequences, potentially obviating the need for future decisions. “National Forest System” is defined according to the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, with specific exclusions for national grasslands and land utilization projects. “Prescribed fire” is defined as a deliberately ignited fire under specified conditions to achieve resource management objectives, in accordance with applicable law. “Secretaries” refers to both the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture. “Secretary” refers specifically to the Secretary of the Interior. “Secretary concerned” depends on the land in question: the Secretary of the Interior for land under their jurisdiction, and the Secretary of Agriculture otherwise.

What does DEFINITION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE. of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This section defines 'prescribed fire' for use within the title. The term 'prescribed fire' is given the meaning defined in section 2. Fires ignited primarily for pile burning are excluded from the definition of 'prescribed fire'.

What does PRESCRIBED FIRE FUNDING. of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes funding flexibility for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior for hazardous fuels management and post-fire activities. Funds can be used for prescribed fires on Federal or non-Federal land if it benefits Federal resources, including procurement contracts, grants, and public outreach. Eligible activities include training for Federal employees and cooperators, post-prescribed fire monitoring, and technical/financial assistance for prescribed fire training. Funding can also be provided for Collaborative Prescribed Fire Programs established under section 104. Secretaries must coordinate with various entities to establish prioritization criteria for expending funds. Priority is given to projects implemented across large areas, those crossing boundaries, and those in areas with high wildfire risk or important Tribal resources.

What does POLICIES AND PRACTICES. of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This section mandates an increase in prescribed fire acreage on Federal land. Starting in the fiscal year following enactment, the acreage of Federal land subject to prescribed fires must increase by 10% each year for 9 years, compared to the previous fiscal year. Secretaries are responsible for conducting these prescribed fires. The Secretary concerned must develop a prescribed fire operational strategy for each region. The strategy must describe the fire deficit by region and the necessary staffing and funding to address it.

What does COLLABORATIVE PRESCRIBED FIRE PROGRAM. of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program to select and fund prescribed fire projects. Projects must align with prioritization criteria, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, applicable land management plans, and other laws. Proposals must include a landscape restoration strategy covering at least 50,000 acres, incorporating best available science and maintaining old-growth forest structure. The collaborative process must involve diverse interests and be transparent. Proposals must describe plans to reduce wildfire risk, improve habitat, maintain water quality, control invasive species, and mitigate smoke impacts. The Secretary concerned may select up to 20 projects annually, considering factors like proposal strength, ecological case, and collaborative process. Recipients must annually report on acres treated and funds used, and the Secretary will submit a program assessment every 5 years. Funding is limited to $20,000,000 annually, with a maximum of $1,000,000 per project and a 10-year project sunset. Projects failing to meet annual targets for three consecutive years will have funding ceased.

What does COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS. of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This section defines 'eligible entity' as including States, Indian Tribes, county or municipal governments, fire districts, nongovernmental organizations, and private entities. The Secretary concerned is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with eligible entities. These agreements or contracts allow eligible entities to coordinate, plan, or conduct prescribed fires on Federal land. The Secretary may authorize eligible entities (States, Indian Tribes, or counties) to enter into subcontracts for conducting prescribed fires. Cooperative agreements or contracts can authorize a series of prescribed fires on Federal land for up to 10 years.

What does HUMAN RESOURCES. of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This section addresses human resources related to prescribed fire management. It outlines measures to increase workforce retention, including hazard pay for Federal employees engaged in prescribed fire work. The Secretaries are directed to establish multiparty task forces within Geographic Area Coordination Centers to plan and support prescribed fire activities. The Secretaries may noncompetitively convert Federal seasonal firefighters to permanent employees based on performance and job duties emphasizing prescribed fires. The Secretaries are tasked with providing career pathways and training for formerly incarcerated individuals who served on wildland firefighting crews or received comparable training, excluding those convicted of arson or violent crimes. The Secretaries shall support the recruitment and development of underutilized employees in the wildland fire workforce. The Secretaries are directed to seek to establish veteran crews to conduct prescribed fires. The Secretaries are required to establish prescribed fire training programs or centers in regions lacking them, and support Indigenous-led training centers. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group is tasked with adjusting training requirements to reduce the time needed for supervisory certifications, recognizing experience gained during prescribed fires. The Secretaries shall create mechanisms for non-Federal fire practitioners to be included in resource ordering and reimbursement processes and develop partnership agreements.

What does LIABILITY OF PRESCRIBED FIRE MANAGERS. of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This section defines 'covered activity' as an activity on Federal land related to wildland fire, prescribed fire, or prescribed fire with cultural objectives, executed as part of a Federal action. A 'covered entity' is a non-Federal entity acting under the direct supervision of a Federal employee and within the scope of a contract or agreement while performing a covered activity. The Secretaries, in coordination with the Attorney General, are directed to develop a voluntary training course for employees involved in covered activities regarding liability protections and limitations. Beginning upon enactment, covered entities engaged in covered activities will be considered Federal employees for purposes of the Federal Tort Claims Act. The Secretaries must issue guidance within one year of enactment regarding contract provisions needed to extend liability protections to covered entities. The Secretaries are required to request annual appropriations to reimburse the Treasury for claims paid under this section.

What does ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. of National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 do?

This section focuses on environmental review related to prescribed fire and smoke management. The Secretaries are directed to ensure policies, training, and programs are consistent with facilitating prescribed fire use and addressing public health and safety impacts from smoke. The Environmental Protection Agency Administrator is tasked with coordinating with state, tribal, and local air quality agencies to provide guidance and tools for exceptional event demonstrations related to prescribed fire. State and Tribal air quality agencies can develop and submit exceptional event demonstrations for prescribed fires, subject to EPA concurrence. Federal agencies are required to assist with exceptional event demonstrations for prescribed fires on federal land. The Secretaries, in coordination with the EPA and CDC, are directed to conduct research to improve smoke prediction models, impact display tools, mitigation strategies, and personal protection messaging. The Secretaries must determine which National Forest System units and Bureau of Land Management districts have landscape-scale prescribed fire plans and revise or develop such plans. In developing these plans, the Secretaries must comply with environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, and consider site-specific environmental consequences. The Secretaries are required to collaborate with diverse actors and engage in government-to-government consultation with Indian Tribes during the plan development process. The Secretaries must submit annual reports to Congress on the progress of implementing this section.

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National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

Last updated: 6/10/2025 · Introduced: 6/10/2025

Author: Kim Schrier (D-WA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to expand the use of prescribed fire on federal lands, particularly in the western and southeastern United States.
It establishes a Prescribed Fire Funding program providing flexible funding for hazardous fuels management, training, and collaborative fire projects, prioritizing large-scale projects and those benefiting Tribal resources.
The bill mandates a 10% annual increase in prescribed fire acreage on federal land over nine years, requiring regional operational strategies and staffing assessments.
It creates a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program to fund landscape-scale projects (at least 50,000 acres) that incorporate best available science and engage diverse stakeholders.
To support prescribed fire efforts, the bill addresses human resources by authorizing hazard pay, facilitating workforce conversion, and establishing training programs, including those for formerly incarcerated individuals and veterans.

119th Congressin committeeS. 2015(In Committee)Official page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, definitions..

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TITLE I

-USE OF FUNDS

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TITLE II

-FACILITATING IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTREACH

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TITLE III

-REPORTING

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