# 119-hr-1923: Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025 119-hr-1923, Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1923 - As of: 2026-08-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-hr-1923 - Congress: 119 - Title: Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025 - Status: in_committee - Introduced: 2025-03-06 - Sponsor: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA) - Cosponsors: 5 - Policy area: Emergency Management - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-08-19 ## Summary **Strengthens wildfire response and public health** by funding training for fire leaders, improving smoke monitoring and alerts, and creating centralized data and coordination tools for wildfire mitigation and recovery. - Wildland firefighters and the emergency workforce get new training and credentialing paths through a Middle Fire Leaders Academy and competitive workforce grants. The bill authorizes $10.0 million per year for the Academy and $10.0 million per year for the grant program for fiscal years 2026–2035. - Families and communities gain better smoke information and public-health tools with a county-level smoke alert system, expanded AirNow capabilities, and a NIOSH worker smoke-risk assessment with published best practices. It authorizes $32.0 million per year for smoke monitoring and alerts (2026–2035) and $1.0 million per year for the NIOSH assessment (2026–2028). - Federal coordination, science, and recovery are boosted by a NOAA Joint Office, dynamic risk maps, a Wildfire Digital Data Center, and FEMA changes that ease use of excess management funds and create a Wildland Fire Major Disaster treatment. The bill authorizes $15.0 million per year for NOAA risk mapping (2026–2030) and $15.0 million per year for the digital data center (2026–2035). ## Cosponsors (5) - Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18] (R-FL), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4] (D-AZ), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - County smoke alerts and more monitors: benefit, high. If enacted, the government would set up county-level smoke alerts within one year. Agencies would expand air monitors, staff, and equipment and modernize AirNow. Wireless Emergency Alerts for smoke would be enabled using air quality forecasts. About $32 million a year would be authorized for 2026–2… - Stronger wildfire data, mapping, and tools: benefit, high. If enacted, NOAA would create a Fire Environment Joint Office within one year to deliver fire data and decision tools. Within three years, agencies would build dynamic, seasonally updated risk maps using satellites and ground checks. The U.S. Fire Administration would add real-time fire data to its… - Faster wildfire aid payments in 90 days: benefit, medium. If enacted, approved wildfire aid would have firm 90-day payout deadlines. Many FEMA, USDA, and community facility payments would be due within 90 days of application submission. Some aid must be paid within 90 days after the last day of the wildfire. SBA disaster loans would be disbursed within 90… - Better retirement for federal wildland firefighters: benefit, medium. If enacted, more federal employees who fight wildland and nonwildland fires would count as firefighters for retirement. Some could elect to count service from October 1, 2003 to the day before enactment if they pay the required additional deductions with interest. Agencies would send matching emplo… - More training for wildfire careers: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Forest Service would start a Middle Fire Leaders Academy within one year. It would offer fast training and certification for wildfire leaders. The Education Department would also give grants within six months to schools and training programs that lead to wildfire-related degrees or… - Worker safety guidance on wildfire smoke: benefit, medium. If enacted, NIOSH would assess health risks from wildfire smoke within two years. The study would cover exposure levels, chemicals, and which workers are most at risk. Within six months after the study, NIOSH would publish best practices to reduce exposure. About $1 million a year would be authoriz… - Easier access to wildfire recovery grants: benefit, medium. If enacted, agencies would simplify community wildfire and recovery grants within 90 days. Forms would be shorter, auto-filled where possible, and better aligned, with more staff to help applicants. FEMA would add wildfire-specific recovery rules and update cost tests and priorities for mitigation… - Post-fire floods covered for three years: benefit, medium. If enacted, a wildfire disaster declaration would also cover later floods, mudslides, or landslides tied to that fire. Coverage would last for three years after the fire start. This would apply to events that happen after enactment. - Support for families after firefighter casualties: benefit, low. If enacted, Interior would set up a casualty assistance program within six months. Next of kin of firefighters hurt or killed on duty could get help with notifications, travel reimbursement, and case management. A website would give free personalized information on federal survivor benefits. The pr… - More fire aid for livestock producers: benefit, low. If enacted, more types of fires would qualify for livestock disaster help. Prescribed burns and managed fires could make eligible producers qualify for forage or emergency livestock assistance. These changes would take effect upon enactment. ## Related bills - 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act - 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act - 119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act - 119-hr-3946: FIGHT Act of 2025 - 119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 - 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 ## Sources - [119-hr-1923 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1923) ## Related - [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262) - [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842) - [119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3277) - [119-hr-3946: FIGHT Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3946) - [119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2853) - [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1923 (as of 2026-08-19).