Wildfire Prevention Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator John Barrasso
Introduced
Summary
Boosts hazardous fuels reduction on federal lands. This bill would set rising minimum annual targets for mechanical thinning and prescribed burning on National Forest System and BLM lands and require public tracking and standardized data to measure progress.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Bigger fuels goals and reporting
If enacted, the bill would make the Forest Service and BLM set higher national targets for fuels work. The agencies must calculate a FY2019–2023 baseline and set goals: FY2025–2026 at least the baseline, FY2027–2028 at least 20% higher, and FY2029+ at least 40% higher. The agencies would post annual regional allotments and public reports starting September 30, 2025. The bill would also require new data standards within 90 days and change budget reporting rules through FY2031 and after.
Higher small timber sale threshold
If enacted, the bill would raise the timber sale dollar threshold used in National Forest rules from $10,000 to $55,000. Small buyers and contractors with sales under $55,000 would face fewer statutory requirements and paperwork on National Forest System land.
Public-private wildfire tech pilot
If enacted, the bill would create a Public-Private Wildfire Technology Deployment and Testbed Pilot Program within 60 days. Private companies, nonprofits, and schools could apply to test new tools like AI, remote sensing, and 5G. The pilot must publish priorities, accept applications, and issue annual reports. The pilot would expire seven years after enactment.
Faster hazard-tree and line clearing
If enacted, the bill would push agencies to use faster environmental-review authorities on high-risk lands within three years. The Forest Service would create a NEPA categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard trees within one year. Owners of power lines could get permits to cut trees on federal land without a separate timber sale, but proceeds from any sale must go to the agency minus transport costs. The hazard-tree distance beside power lines would be treated as 50 feet.
Grazing strategy to reduce fire risk
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary to submit a strategy within 18 months on using livestock grazing to reduce wildfire risk on Federal land. The report must analyze permit changes, targeted grazing, using grazing for invasive grass control, and temporary use of vacant allotments. The section would not change existing grazing programs.
Local and tribal lawsuit rights
If enacted, the bill would let a unit of local government or an Indian Tribe intervene as of right in lawsuits about qualifying federal projects near their land. Intervenors would also be full participants in settlement talks for those projects.
Definitions and FLAME Act change
If enacted, the bill would add clear definitions for terms like 'Federal land', 'hazardous fuels reduction activity', and 'Secretary concerned'. It would also strike subsection (h) from section 502 of the FLAME Act of 2009, redesignating the next subsection.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
John Barrasso
WY • R
Cosponsors
Steve Daines
MT • R
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Cynthia Lummis
WY • R
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Tim Sheehy
MT • R
Sponsored 1/16/2025
James Risch
ID • R
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Mike Crapo
ID • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in