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119-s-647119th Congress

Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a network of university‑based regional wildland fire research centers to produce better tools, data, and models that help predict fires, guide land managers, and reduce post‑fire hazards. The centers must share data openly and coordinate through a national board to avoid duplicated work and speed deployment of operational tools.

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  • Communities and first responders will get improved forecasting, smoke‑impact research, and better understanding of post‑fire risks like flash floods, which supports safer planning and response.
  • Colleges, universities, and researchers compete to host at least seven regional centers, one per specified region such as Alaska, California, the Pacific Northwest, the Pacific Islands, the Northern Rockies, the Southeast, and the Southwest. Centers will develop technologies, run models, and train new wildland fire scientists.
  • Federal land management agencies get a National Center Coordination Board that sets research priorities, creates FAIR data sharing protocols, and helps translate research into decision‑support tools for on‑the‑ground managers.

*Authorizes new federal funding starting at $60.0 million in FY2026 and rising to $64.0 million by FY2030, plus $1.0 million per year for the Board, totaling about $315.0 million over FY2026–FY2030, increasing federal spending.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Funding for regional fire research

If enacted, the bill would fund regional wildland fire research centers from FY2026 through FY2030. It would authorize $60 million for FY2026, $61 million for FY2027, $62 million for FY2028, $63 million for FY2029, and $64 million for FY2030. It would also authorize $1 million per year for the National Center Coordination Board for FY2026–FY2030. Centers could use money for construction and equipment. Federal science agencies could transfer additional funds to centers, and the Secretary could reallocate money among centers with budget justification and notice to Congress.

New regional wildfire research centers

If enacted, the bill would set up at least seven regional wildland fire research centers at universities or land‑grant colleges. At least one center would be in each region: Alaska, California, Northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Islands, Southeast, and Southwest. The Secretary would pick hosts through a competitive process and give priority to schools with existing fire research, federal partnerships, Joint Fire Science leadership, or minority‑serving status. Each regional center would do applied research and build tools (models, near‑real‑time data, smoke and post‑fire risk work), follow FAIR data rules, and form a Regional Advisory Board of agency, State, Tribal, and expert members who serve without pay.

National coordination and oversight rules

If enacted, the bill would create a National Center Coordination Board with one member from each regional center and NOAA and the Forest Service co‑chairing. The Board would meet regularly, set data and sharing protocols, and work to avoid duplicate work with federal labs and agencies. The Secretary and Wildland Fire Leadership Council would report to Congress about center progress not later than 2 years and 4 years after enactment. The Secretary must consult Federal science agencies and OSTP. The bill also defines key administrative terms and what counts as a "wildland fire" and which agencies are wildland fire management agencies.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 2/20/2025

  • Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 2/20/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/20/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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