# 119-hr-5823: Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025

119-hr-5823, Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO); status in_committee (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5823
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5823
- Congress: 119
- Title: Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-10-24
- Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Emergency watershed protection on National Forest System land**. This bill would create an Emergency Forest Watershed Program to fund and speed repairs for erosion, runoff, and flood risks on National Forest lands after natural disasters. - Downstream communities and water users would get faster projects to reduce flood and water risks after disasters. Sponsors must finish emergency measures within 2 years and may monitor or repair them for up to 3 years. - State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and water districts could be paid by the Forest Service to carry out projects. The bill waives matching requirements and allows partial payments with final payment due within 30 days after project completion. - The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, would coordinate with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and enter agreements with sponsors. Sponsors would generally not have to indemnify the United States and would be shielded from liability except for willful or wanton negligence or reckless conduct.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2] (R-UT), 2025-10-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8] (D-WA), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Emergency watershed program for forests: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would create an Emergency Forest Watershed Program to let the Forest Service work with sponsors after sudden natural disasters. States, local governments, Indian Tribes, and water districts could sign agreements to do emergency work on National Forest System land. The bill wou…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-10061: Wildfire Response and Readiness Act
- 119-hr-6856: Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1383: Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-5823 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5823)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-10061: Wildfire Response and Readiness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10061)
- [119-hr-6856: Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6856)
- [119-hr-1383: Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1383)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5823 (as of 2026-09-21).