# 119-s-5106: Wildfire Insurance Affordability Act

119-s-5106, Wildfire Insurance Affordability Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5106
- As of: 2026-08-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5106
- Congress: 119
- Title: Wildfire Insurance Affordability Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-23
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Taxation
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-13

## Summary

**Federal grants and vouchers to reduce household wildfire risk and insurance costs.** The bill creates a nationwide grant program to fund home hardening and vegetation management and a means-tested pilot to help pay wildfire insurance premiums. - Homeowners and small multifamily/affordable housing: Grants pay for home hardening, defensible space, ignition-resistant roofing and other mitigation work for owner-occupied primary residences, multifamily properties with fewer than five units, and affordable housing. Grants to households are capped at $10,000 each. - Low- and moderate-income households in high-risk areas: Households at or below 80% of area median income that complete required risk reduction can get state-distributed vouchers to offset wildfire insurance premiums. The pilot is time-limited and reports annually to Congress and ends after five years. - States, Tribes, and local fire agencies: Eligible recipients include state insurance agencies, Tribes, and subgrantees like local fire departments. Grants are allocated using a three-part formula weighing population, wildfire risk, and equity, administrative costs are capped at 10%, and amounts paid under these programs are excluded from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Grants to Harden Homes: benefit, high. If enacted, the Fire Administrator would create a Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program within 90 days. States, tribes, and similar agencies could get formula grants to pay for home hardening and community wildfire work. Individual household awards would be capped at $10,000. Funds would be split 2…
- Tax Exclusion for Mitigation: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would amend IRC section 139 to exclude 'qualified catastrophe mitigation payments' from gross income. The exclusion would cover amounts paid under this bill's grants and vouchers and similar state programs overseen by a State insurance agency. Excluded payments would not increa…
- Vouchers to Lower Premiums: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Fire Administrator would start a voucher pilot within 180 days to give States funds to reduce wildfire insurance premiums. To get a voucher, a household would need to live in a high-risk area as the State insurance commissioner defines it, complete required mitigation work, and have…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5106 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5106)

## Related
- [119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5238)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5106 (as of 2026-08-13).