Bill · H.R. 5782· House(119-HR-5782)
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 10/17/2025
- Last activity
- 12/5/2025 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- Sponsored by
- Joe Neguse
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025 aims to improve Federal activities regarding wildfires. The bill includes provisions for increased transparency in firefighting accounts and establishes reimbursement protocols for fires caused by military training. It mandates strategic wildland fire management planning and studies on integrating local firefighters into response efforts. Additionally, the act supports wildfire detection equipment, research for unmanned aircraft systems, and studies on drone incursions. Finally, it addresses post-fire recovery through online assistance guides, emergency response teams, and long-term rehabilitation accounts.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+6
The bill increases resources and information access for post-fire recovery and community assistance.
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+6
The bill improves the management of federal lands through strategic fire planning and restoration.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+5
The bill enhances environmental stability through ecosystem restoration and invasive species management.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Financial Accountability: The bill requires reporting on specific amounts obligated and expended from Wildland Fire Management accounts, including details on ground-based, aircraft, and personnel costs (Sec. 101).
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State Agency Reimbursement: State agencies can be reimbursed for fire suppression services resulting from military training or Department of Defense operations (Sec. 102).
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Improved Safety Planning: The mandate for spatial fire management policies aims to identify potential wildfire and smoke risks to first responders and communities (Sec. 103).
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Enhanced Detection Capabilities: The bill seeks to expedite the placement of detection equipment like sensors and cameras to improve wildfire response (Sec. 201).
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Support for Local Entities: Financial assistance for slip-on tanker units is expanded to include Indian Tribes (Sec. 202).
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Access to Recovery Information: The act allows for the creation of websites to provide communities and individuals with lists of Federal, State, and local sources for post-disaster recovery assistance (Sec. 301).
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Immediate Landscape Stabilization: The establishment of Burned Area Emergency Response Teams helps coordinate post-wildfire efforts like removing hazardous trees and preventing erosion (Sec. 302).
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Long-Term Ecosystem Restoration: A dedicated account is established to fund projects like reforestation, watershed restoration, and wildlife habitat restoration on Federal lands (Sec. 303).
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Technological Innovation Incentives: A prize competition is created to encourage technological advancements for managing wildfire-related invasive species (Sec. 304).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Costs for Federal Agencies: The bill mandates specific reporting on a wide range of costs, including administrative and support costs for catastrophic wildfires (Sec. 101).
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Potential Risks from Drones: The bill includes a study on drone incursions, noting that such activities can interfere with wildfire suppression, delay aerial response units, and increase government expenditures (Sec. 204).
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Resource Limitations for Response Teams: The Burned Area Emergency Response Teams are authorized to operate for a period of not more than 1 year after a wildfire is contained (Sec. 302).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+6Improves Public Land Management+6Improves Environmental Protections+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+5Good For Rural Residents+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+3
- 12/5/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- 12/1/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 10/17/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.