Ron Wyden (D-OR)
National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 635.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to expand the use of prescribed fires on federal lands. It establishes programs, funding flexibility, and workforce initiatives to support controlled burns and hazardous fuels management. The legislation also addresses smoke management, liability protections for participating entities, and reporting requirements for states and federal agencies. Additionally, the bill supports cultural burning practices by Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners. The stated goal is to reduce uncharacteristic wildfire risks and improve ecosystem health across the United States.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill acknowledges and supports the long-standing use of cultural burning by Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill directly expands the use and management of prescribed fire on Federal lands.
- Scored +6
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill focuses on mitigating the risk of high-intensity wildfires through prescribed fire.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would people in cities be better off under this?
Expansion of prescribed fire may increase smoke impacts on nearby communities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Funding Flexibility and Grants: Section 101 allows the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to use up to 15 percent of their annual hazardous fuels management funds for prescribed fire activities, including issuing grants to states, tribal governments, local governments, and nonprofits. This is beneficial because it provides crucial financial resources directly to local and tribal communities to implement risk-reduction burns and conduct environmental reviews.
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Workforce Support and Job Creation: Section 202 improves workforce retention by offering hazard pay for federal employees carrying out prescribed fires and provides career pathways for veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals who served on wildland firefighting crews. This is a positive outcome as it supports economic opportunities and stable employment while building a skilled workforce dedicated to wildfire prevention.
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Liability Protections for Cooperators: Section 203 extends Federal Tort Claims Act coverage to non-federal entities and cooperators acting under direct federal supervision during covered activities like prescribed burns. This is beneficial because it removes a major legal and financial barrier that often discourages local partners and private entities from assisting with controlled burns.
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Air Quality and Public Health Coordination: Section 204 requires the Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate with state, tribal, and local air quality agencies to provide guidance, data, and tools for managing smoke and submitting exceptional event demonstrations. This is helpful for individuals and communities because it protects public health and helps prevent unfair regulatory penalties when prescribed fires temporarily impact air quality.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Strict Reporting Penalties for States: Section 301 requires states to submit annual reports on wildfire risk mitigation to the National Fire Planning and Operations Database by December 31, or risk losing eligibility to receive funding made available under the Act for the previous fiscal year. This could be considered a negative burden for state governments that face administrative hurdles or resource shortages in meeting the strict reporting deadline.
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.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill directly expands the use and management of prescribed fire on Federal lands. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill focuses on mitigating the risk of high-intensity wildfires through prescribed fire. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill emphasizes ecological restoration and wildfire risk reduction through prescribed fire. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill aims to benefit local economies and rural land management through training and contracts.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill acknowledges and supports the long-standing use of cultural burning by Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill provides career pathways, training, and potential crews composed of veterans. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill aims to benefit local economies and provide training/employment in rural areas. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Expansion of prescribed fire may increase smoke impacts on nearby communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill supports workforce development and career pathways for various groups through training programs and contracts. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The program includes provisions to involve small or micro businesses in local contracts and training. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill aims to benefit local economies through employment and training opportunities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill directs federal agencies to expand their use of prescribed fire on federal lands. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reporting on implementation and program performance.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The act directs research into smoke prediction models and mitigation strategies.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — The act directs research to improve smoke prediction models and mitigate health impacts.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill seeks to provide career pathways and training for veterans to work as prescribed fire practitioners.
- 9/17/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 635.
- 12/17/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 12/10/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/9/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/10/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
John CurtisRepublican · Utah
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida