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H.R. 345House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025

Sponsored by Josh HarderRep. Josh Harder (D-CA)
Introduced January 13, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 3:36 AM UTC

The Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025 would create uniform rules for how federal agencies reimburse local fire departments under reciprocal fire‑suppression cost‑share agreements. Within one year of the law’s passage, the Secretaries of Agriculture, the Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense must develop standard operating procedures, review existing agreements, and adjust them to match the new rules. The goal is to ensure that local fire departments receive timely federal payments after a fire event.

Key Provisions

  • Within one year, the four federal Secretaries must issue standard operating procedures that set payment timelines for fire‑suppression cost‑share agreements.
  • All existing cost‑share agreements in effect on that date must be reviewed and revised as needed to follow the new procedures.
  • The procedures must align each cost‑share agreement with any cooperative fire‑protection agreements that apply to the same entity.
  • Federal agencies must reimburse a local fire department when it submits an invoice that follows the established cost‑settlement process.
  • Congress expresses that reimbursements should be made as soon as possible after a fire, but no later than one year after the fire occurs.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

Natural Resources Committee

July 23, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 13, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Natural Resources Committee

January 13, 2025

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

February 14, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Natural Resources Committee

July 23, 2025

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

Natural Resources Committee

July 23, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 13, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 345

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 13, 2025

Mr. Harder of California (for himself and Mr. LaMalfa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To require the standardization of reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreements, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025.

2.

Requirements relating to certain fire suppression cost share agreements

(a)

Establishment of standard operating procedures

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall—

(1)

establish standard operating procedures relating to payment timelines for fire suppression cost share agreements established under the Act of May 27, 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act); and

(2)

with respect to each fire suppression cost share agreement in operation on such date—

(A)

review each such agreement; and

(B)

modify each agreement as necessary to comply with the standard operating procedures required under paragraph (1).

(b)

Alignment of fire suppression cost share agreements with cooperative fire protection agreements

The standard operating procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall include a requirement that each fire suppression cost share agreement be aligned with each of the cooperative fire protection agreements applicable to the entity subject to such fire suppression cost share agreement.

(c)

Payments pursuant to cost share agreements

With respect to payments made pursuant to fire suppression cost share agreements, the standard operating procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall require that the Federal paying entity reimburse a local fire department if such fire department submits an invoice in accordance with cost settlement procedures.

(d)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretaries should carry out reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreement repayments to local fire suppression organizations as soon as practicable after fire suppression occurs but not later than 1 year after fire suppression occurs.

(e)

Secretaries defined

In this section, the term Secretaries means—

(1)

the Secretary of Agriculture;

(2)

the Secretary of the Interior;

(3)

the Secretary of Homeland Security; and

(4)

the Secretary of Defense.