Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 5 Republican cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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
This bill is known as the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026. It amends the Clean Air Act to modify the definition of renewable biomass for the purposes of the renewable fuel standard. The text updates what specific materials generated from forest products manufacturing and wood products manufacturing count as renewable biomass. It alters the rules regarding trees, shrubs, and parts of trees or shrubs taken from non-Federal land, the National Forest System, public lands, and land owned by an Indian tribe or held in trust. The legislation includes vegetation obtained from defensible space around structures and infrastructure assets or from wildfire risk reduction activities within the wildland-urban interface. Finally, it outlines specific certification and attestation requirements for landowners and the Departments of Agriculture or the Interior.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +5
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill explicitly includes land owned by Indian tribes and expands the definition of non-Federal land to include land owned by Native Corporations.
- Scored +4
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill expands the definition of renewable biomass, creating more value for manufacturing and land management businesses.
- Scored +4
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?
The bill expands the types of materials eligible for the renewable fuel standard, potentially increasing renewable energy production.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 updates the definition of renewable biomass to include materials generated from forest products manufacturing and wood products manufacturing, such as wood residuals, paper residuals, sawdust, wood, wood chips, shavings, bark, sanderdust, and paper recycling residuals. This could benefit wood and paper product industries by providing clearer market opportunities for their byproduct materials.
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Section 2 allows trees, shrubs, and parts of trees or shrubs from non-Federal land, Indian tribe land, or land held in trust by the United States to qualify as renewable biomass if managed under specific forestry programs or long-term timber production attestations. This may provide landowners and tribes with economic options for managing their timber and forestry waste.
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Section 2 includes vegetation obtained from within the reasonably established defensible space of a structure or infrastructure asset, as well as vegetation from wildfire risk reduction activities within the wildland-urban interface. This provision directly supports community safety and wildfire reduction efforts by allowing cleared hazardous vegetation to be utilized within the renewable fuel standard.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain explicit details regarding potential negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill explicitly includes land owned by Indian tribes and expands the definition of non-Federal land to include land owned by Native Corporations. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill expands the definition of renewable biomass, creating more value for manufacturing and land management businesses. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill supports forest management and wildfire risk reduction activities commonly found in rural areas. Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill provides more ways for land managers to monetize vegetation through biomass markets. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased economic activity in forest management could provide local employment opportunities.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill expands the types of materials eligible for the renewable fuel standard, potentially increasing renewable energy production. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill provides more opportunities for rural landholders and timber-dependent economies by including more biomass types.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The expansion of the renewable biomass definition may increase demand for workers in forest products manufacturing and land management. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill facilitates more markets for wood residuals and manufacturing by-products.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By expanding the scope of renewable biomass, the bill provides additional revenue opportunities for landholders.
- 9/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/22/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 6 Cosponsors 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.
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi