H.R. 480House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Wildfire Recovery Act

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 2:26 AM UTC

The Wildfire Recovery Act amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to increase the federal contribution for fire‑management assistance. It sets the federal share at a minimum of 75% of eligible costs and applies to funding appropriated after the law takes effect. The bill also directs FEMA to issue rules within three years that define when the President can raise the federal cost share, using a metric that measures the financial impact on state or local governments.

Key Provisions

Federal share for fire‑management assistance must be at least 75% of eligible costs.
The new cost‑share rule applies only to appropriations made after the act’s enactment date.
Within three years, FEMA must create rulemaking criteria, including a threshold metric, for the President to increase the federal cost share for wildfire assistance.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

February 1, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 24, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

January 24, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

February 1, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 24, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 480

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 24, 2023

Mr. Neguse (for himself, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Lynch, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Stanton, Ms. Norton, Ms. Schrier, Ms. Strickland, Mr. DeSaulnier, Ms. Leger Fernandez, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Gallego, and Mr. Blumenauer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide flexibility with the cost share for fire management assistance, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Wildfire Recovery Act.

Fire management assistance cost share

(a)

In general

Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

(e)

Federal share

The Federal share of assistance under this section shall be not less than 75 percent of the eligible cost of such assistance.

(b)

Applicability

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall only apply to amounts appropriated on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

Rulemaking

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall conduct and complete a rulemaking to provide criteria for the circumstances under which the Administrator may recommend the President increase the Federal cost share for section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187). Such criteria shall include a threshold metric that assesses the financial impact to a State or local government from responding to a fire for which fire management assistance is being provided.