Bill · S. 350· Senate(119-S-350)
Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 1/30/2025
- Last activity
- 7/17/2025 — Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Alex Padilla
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025 aims to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to implement landscape-scale forest restoration and help communities become more resilient to wildfires. It establishes a pilot program for conservation finance agreements to leverage non-Federal investment for forest restoration projects. The bill also creates a program to improve the energy resilience of critical facilities through microgrids and renewable energy. Additionally, it provides for weatherization retrofits to help communities become more fire-resilient. The legislation includes provisions for wildfire detection equipment and the establishment of Western prescribed fire centers for training and research. Finally, it creates workforce development and community stewardship grant programs to support these efforts.
Yes· 3 of 16
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+6
The bill allocates a specific set-aside for Indian Tribes and provides grants for Tribal management.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill focuses on forest restoration and wildfire resilience which directly benefits rural communities.
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?+6
The bill establishes a program to improve energy resilience through microgrids and renewable energy for critical facilities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Landscape-Scale Forest Restoration: The bill authorizes a pilot program to increase the pace of forest restoration through conservation finance agreements, which can include local employment opportunities (Section 102).
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Energy Resilience for Critical Facilities: A program will be established to improve the energy resilience of critical facilities—such as hospitals, police stations, and fire stations—using microgrids, renewable energy, and on-on-site storage (Section 201).
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Fire-Resilient Community Retrofits: The bill amends weatherization programs to allow for the use of fire- and drought-resistant building materials, such as mass timber, to help homeowners prepare for wildfires (Section 202).
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Improved Wildfire Detection: The bill seeks to expedite the placement of detection equipment like sensors and cameras, as well as expand the use of satellite and remote sensing data to assist in wildfire response and firefighter safety (Section 203).
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Workforce Development: An innovative forest workforce development program will assist in creating careers in fields like timber operations, ecological restoration, and wildland firefighting through various training and education opportunities (Section 302).
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Support for Disadvantaged Communities: The National Community Capacity and Land Stewardship Grant Program provides funding to eligible entities in disadvantaged communities to support land stewardship and forest restoration (Section 303).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Risk of Agreement Cancellation Due to Funding: Under the conservation finance pilot program, if funds are not made available in subsequent fiscal years, agreements may be canceled, terminated, or modified (Section 103).
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Financial Risk in Conservation Finance: The Secretary may need to pay the costs associated with canceling or terminating a conservation finance agreement if funding for the completion of the agreement is not appropriated (Section 103).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+6Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Young Adults+4Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Urban Residents+3Good For Immigrants+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+5Improves Small Business Support+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Increases Renewable Energy Investment+6Improves Public Transit+2
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+2
- 7/17/2025
- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 7/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/30/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada