Bill · S. 5293· Senate(119-S-5293)
PREPARE Act
- Introduced
- 8/6/2026
- Last activity
- 9/16/2026 — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
- Sponsored by
- Pete Ricketts
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Pilot for Regional Emergency Prepositioning of Aerial Resources and Equipment Act or the PREPARE Act. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to set up a pilot program for seasonal prepositioning protocols of aerial wildfire suppression resources. These protocols are specifically for early-season fine fuel wildland fires. The program will cover the States of Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wyoming. It must be established in accordance with each State's Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act Response Agreement and in consultation with the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center. Finally, the agencies must use existing funding for wildland fire management and cannot receive any additional appropriations to carry out the section.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+6
The bill establishes proactive protocols for wildfire suppression to mitigate disaster impacts.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+5
The bill enhances environmental safety by prepositioning resources to mitigate wildfire impacts.
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+5
It improves the management of federal lands through more effective wildfire resource deployment.
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(a): This section sets up a pilot program for seasonal prepositioning protocols of aerial wildfire suppression resources for early-season fine fuel wildland fires in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wyoming. This is positive because it aims to fight fires early in specific states using aerial resources.
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Section 2(b): This section requires the pilot program to be established in accordance with the State's Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act Response Agreement and in consultation with the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center. This is positive because it ensures cooperation with local state agreements and coordination centers.
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Section 2(c): This section states that the secretaries will carry out the program using funding otherwise available for wildland fire management without authorizing any additional appropriations. This is positive because it uses existing funds instead of asking for more taxpayer money.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or provisions were found explicitly within 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 Disaster Relief And F E M A+6Improves Environmental Protections+5Improves Public Land Management+5Improves Rural Development+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights+2Increases Federal Power+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+1
- 9/16/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
- 8/6/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Introduced in Senate