Bill · H.R. 5823· House(119-HR-5823)
Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 10/24/2025
- Last activity
- 12/2/2025 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- Sponsored by
- Joe Neguse
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025," aims to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978. It seeks to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out emergency watershed protection measures on National Forest System land. These measures are intended to address issues like soil erosion, runoff retardation, and flood mitigation following natural disasters. The Secretary can work through various sponsors, such as state or local governments or Indian Tribes, to complete these projects. The Act also establishes specific timelines for project completion and monitoring.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+8
The bill establishes an emergency forest watershed program to rapidly address and mitigate natural disaster impacts such as floods and soil erosion.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+7
The bill authorizes emergency watershed protection measures to restore forest health and address runoff, soil erosion, and flooding on National Forest System land.
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+7
It authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out critical emergency measures specifically on National Forest System lands.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of Life and Property: The bill addresses measures that prevent damage which "would pose an immediate risk to water resources or loss of life or property downstream of the National Forest System land" (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(ii)).
-
Environmental Preservation: The provisions allow for actions that "maintain or restore forest health and forest-related resources on the National Forest System land" (Section 2(a)(1)(B)).
-
Support for Local Entities: The Secretary is authorized to enter into agreements and make payments to sponsors, which include "a State or local government; an Indian Tribe... or a water district, water conservation district, water utility, or special district" (Section 2(a)(4)).
-
Financial Flexibility for Projects: The Secretary may "make partial payments prior to completion of the applicable project" (Section 2(c)(2)(B)(i)), and the bill explicitly states that the Secretary "shall waive any matching requirements for payments made under subsection (c)(1)" (Section 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Financial Risk for Early Action: If a sponsor begins carrying out emergency watershed protection measures before they have officially entered into an agreement with the Secretary, that sponsor "shall assume the risk of incurring any cost or liability resulting from carrying out those measures" (Section 2(f)).
-
Liability for Negligence: While sponsors are generally protected from liability, they are not shielded from "liability for damages or costs relating to the carrying out of emergency watershed protection measures... if the sponsor acted with willful or wanton negligence or reckless conduct" (Section 2(e)(2)).
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+8Improves Environmental Protections+7Improves Public Land Management+7Improves Rural Development+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Native Americans+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights+4
- 5/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/2/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- 10/24/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
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.
Celeste MaloyRepublican · Utah
Kim SchrierDemocrat · Washington