Bill · H.R. 6618· House(119-HR-6618)
Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act
- Introduced
- 12/11/2025
- Last activity
- 3/25/2026 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Sponsored by
- Janelle Bynum
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 2
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
The Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act requires the FAA Administrator to study how drone incursions affect wildfire suppression on land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture. The study will look at the last five years to determine how many incursions interfered with firefighting, the delays caused, and the costs to the government. It also examines if educational materials or counter-UAS systems are effective at preventing these incursions. The Administrator must submit a report with findings and recommendations to specific House and Senate committees within 18 months.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+5
Directly addresses the management of land overseen by the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture during wildfires.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+5
Directly impacts the safety and protection of rural areas prone to wildfires.
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+4
The act focuses on improving the efficiency and safety of aerial response during wildfire disasters.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Firefighting Efficiency: By studying how drone incursions delay aerial firefighting response units and the time needed for complete suppression, the bill seeks to find ways to remove these obstacles (Section 2(c)(1)).
-
Public Education: The bill evaluates the feasibility of sharing educational materials about how drones interfere with wildfire operations, which could lead to better public awareness (Section 2(c)(2)(A)).
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Enhanced Safety Measures: The study evaluates the use of approved counter-UAS systems to detect, mitigate, and prevent drone incursions during firefighting (Section 2(c)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
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 Public Land Management+5Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+4Improves Environmental Protections+3Improves Rural Development+2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Farmers+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2Increases Federal Power+1
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+2
- 3/25/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 3/24/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2654)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6618.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2654-2655)
- Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 3/16/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-548.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 471.
- 1/21/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 1/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/12/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
- 12/11/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 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.
Elijah CraneRepublican · Arizona
Juan CiscomaniRepublican · Arizona
Marcy KapturDemocrat · Ohio
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado