Jeff Hurd (R-CO)
Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Act
A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Subcommittee Hearings Held
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Act aims to codify a specific categorical exclusion for the Bureau of Land Management. This exclusion applies to tree density modification activities conducted within treatment areas of less than 5,000 acres. These activities include actions like cutting trees, chipping slash, and pile burning. The bill also allows for the construction of permanent and temporary roads to facilitate these actions. Certain methods, such as clearcutting or converting forests to non-forest vegetation, are specifically excluded from this provision.
Yes
- Scored +3
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?
The bill facilitates the construction and maintenance of roads to support forest management activities.
- Scored +2
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill streamlines forest management and infrastructure work that often occurs in rural landscapes.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill reduces transparency requirements by establishing a categorical exclusion from the National Environmental Policy Act's assessment processes.
- Scored -2
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill limits environmental oversight by allowing certain tree density modification activities to bypass environmental assessments and impact statements.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Streamlined Tree Management: The bill designates tree density modification as a categorical exclusion from preparing environmental assessments or impact statements, which allows for faster implementation of covered actions like cutting, yarding, and removing trees (Section 2(a) and Section 2(c)(1)).
-
Habitat and Species Support: Covered actions include group selection to promote shade intolerant species and early successional habitat, as well as seeding or planting to accelerate the re-establishment of native species (Section 2(c)(1)).
-
Fuel Management: The bill allows for pile burning or underburning of fuels created by the covered actions to manage fire risks (Section 2(c)(1)(D)).
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Infrastructure Support: The bill permits the construction of up to 5 miles of new permanent roads and the maintenance of existing roads to help carry out these density modification activities (Section 2(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Exclusion of Environmental Reviews: By designating these actions as categorically excluded, they do not require the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (Section 2(a)).
-
Road Construction Impacts: The bill allows for the construction of new permanent roads and temporary roads, which must meet specific standards regarding safety, erosion control, and sedimentation prevention (Section 2(b)(3)).
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Land Alteration Risks: Actions such as cutting, yarding, and removing trees could impact the landscape, requiring documentation regarding soil compaction, erosion control, and the management of snags or downed wood (Section 2(b)(3)(D)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill reduces transparency requirements by establishing a categorical exclusion from the National Environmental Policy Act's assessment processes.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill streamlines forest management and infrastructure work that often occurs in rural landscapes.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill facilitates the construction and maintenance of roads to support forest management activities. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill limits environmental oversight by allowing certain tree density modification activities to bypass environmental assessments and impact statements.
- 5/21/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 5/12/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/7/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Chuck EdwardsRepublican · North Carolina
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Dan NewhouseRepublican · Washington