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119-s-2208119th Congress

Wildfire Resilient Communities Act

Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

Introduced

Summary

Creates mandatory $30.0 billion to fund hazardous fuels reduction projects on Federal land and adds program changes and county payments to cut wildfire risk, restore landscapes, and boost community resilience. It would also authorize $3.0 billion for 2027–2031 to supplement community wildfire defense grants and tighten collaborative restoration rules.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Extra $3 billion for community wildfire grants

If enacted, the bill would authorize $3 billion to be appropriated for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program. The money would be in addition to earlier IIJA amounts and would fund eligible State, Tribal, local, and community projects that reduce wildfire risk. Congress would still need to appropriate the money before grants are paid.

One-time $30 billion for wildfire projects

If enacted, the bill would transfer $30 billion from Treasury to federal land agency heads on the first October 1 after enactment. The money would pay for hazardous fuels reduction projects on federal lands. Agencies would be able to use the funds without further annual appropriations and the money would remain available until spent. Up to 10 percent (about $3 billion) could be used for administrative and planning costs. Agencies would have to prioritize projects near at-risk communities, high-value watersheds, very high hazard areas, certain fire regimes, or projects that meet multiple national cohesive strategy goals.

Stronger rules for forest restoration projects

If enacted, the bill would change the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program rules. It would add pathogens to species considerations and require standard monitoring questions and a federal staffing plan for collaboration. It would add new project evaluation priorities like cross-ownership restoration, watershed health, and innovative finance. The bill would also raise numeric thresholds in applications and set program funding at $100 million starting in fiscal year 2026 and each year after.

New county payments from forest sales

If enacted, the bill would create a County Stewardship Fund and require annual Treasury deposits for qualifying federal forest product contracts. Each fiscal year the Fund would get the greater of 25 percent of the appraised value or 25 percent of excess receipts for each contract. Each county where a contract occurred in the prior year would receive a payment equal to 25 percent of the receipts from that contract. Counties could spend the money for any government purpose.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/8/2025

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 7/8/2025

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/8/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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