Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
Introduced
Summary
Creates regional wildland fire research centers to build shared fire science, predictive tools, and open data across eight U.S. regions. The bill would also set up a National Center Coordination Board to link centers, federal science agencies, and wildland fire managers and authorize multi-year funding to run the network.
Show full summary
- Researchers and universities: A competitive process would pick not fewer than 8 regional centers, starting with a pilot of at least 2 centers. Eligible hosts include land-grant and minority-serving institutions and centers may use funds for necessary construction and equipment.
- Fire managers and incident teams: Centers must develop and integrate predictive models for fire potential, spread, smoke, and vegetation response into decision-support systems. The law would support prescribed fire training, post-fire risk tools, and end-to-end applications that help managers adopt new technology.
- States, Tribes, and communities: Each of eight regions would have a center and a Regional Advisory Board with State and Tribal representatives to guide research and improve communication about smoke and post-fire risks.
*This bill would authorize about $315 million in appropriations for FY2026–2030 to fund the regional centers and the Coordination Board.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New regional wildfire research centers
If enacted, the government would create and fund regional wildland fire research centers at colleges and land‑grant universities. The bill would authorize $60 million for FY2026, $61 million for FY2027, $62 million for FY2028, $63 million for FY2029, and $64 million for FY2030 (about $310 million total). The Secretaries would select at least eight centers by competition, start a pilot of at least two centers as soon as practicable, and establish the remaining centers no later than two years after the pilot. Centers could use funds for construction or necessary equipment. Federal science agencies may transfer extra funds to centers, and the Secretaries may reallocate center appropriations but must notify Congress and include changes in the President’s budget materials.
Definitions for program terms
If enacted, the bill would define key program terms. 'Wildland fire management agencies' would include the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. 'Wildland fire' would mean any non‑structure fire in vegetation, including prescribed burns and unplanned ignitions.
National coordination board and reports
If enacted, the bill would create a National Center Coordination Board with one member chosen by each regional center. The Board would be co‑chaired by the Administrator and the Chief of the Forest Service and would get $1 million each year for FY2026 through FY2030. The Board would set science and data standards, coordinate research and models, avoid duplication, and support adoption of tools by management agencies. The Board would meet quarterly, hold annual public meetings in each State covered by a region, and have staggered member terms. The Secretaries would also report to Congress on each regional center’s progress not later than 2 years and 4 years after enactment, prepared with the Board.
Regional advisory boards at centers
If enacted, each regional center would have a Regional Advisory Board under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Boards would include at least one regional wildland fire agency representative, one State official from each State in the region, and one Tribal representative. Boards may form a subcommittee of up to 15 technical participants from universities, nonprofits, industry, and firefighters. Members would serve without pay, meet quarterly, and vacancies must be filled within 180 days.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Evans (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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