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H.R. 5963House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act

Sponsored by Teresa Leger FernandezRep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
Introduced November 7, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 27, 2025 at 5:43 AM UTC

The Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act would let the USDA eliminate required cost‑share matches for projects that address wildland fires caused by its own forest‑management actions. By waiving these matching requirements, states, tribes, localities, and individuals could receive full federal funding to repair damage and restore watersheds. The bill applies only to fires the Secretary determines were the result of USDA management on National Forest System lands.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Agriculture can waive any required matching funds for projects that respond to wildland fires caused by USDA management activities on National Forest System lands.
  • When a waiver is granted, the affected state, tribe, local government, or individual can receive 100% federal funding for remediation of direct and indirect damages.
  • The bill defines a "covered wildland fire" as one the Secretary determines resulted from management activities, and a "covered matching requirement" as any cash match normally required under federal fire‑recovery programs.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

December 2, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 7, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.

Agriculture Committee

November 7, 2025

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

December 2, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued November 7, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5963

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 7, 2025

Ms. Leger Fernandez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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 provide for cost-share waivers for projects carried out in response to wildland fires caused by certain Government actions, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act.

2.

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to ensure that parties affected by wildland fires resulting from management activities conducted by the Department of Agriculture on National Forest System land are eligible to receive 100 percent funding for the cost of remediating direct and indirect damages under authorized Federal recovery programs.

3.

Cost-share waiver for rehabilitation from wildland fires

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Covered matching requirement

The term covered matching requirement means a requirement under a program of the Secretary for wildland fire recovery for a State, Indian Tribe, locality, or individual to provide matching funds, in cash, for a project.

(2)

Covered wildland fire

The term covered wildland fire means a wildland fire that the Secretary determines to be a result of management activities conducted by the Secretary on National Forest System land.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(4)

Wildland fire

(A)

In general

The term wildland fire means any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels.

(B)

Inclusions

The term wildland fire includes wildfire, prescribed fire, and any direct or indirect damage resulting in watershed impairment.

(b)

Waiver

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may waive any covered matching requirement for a project in response to a covered wildland fire that is in an area affected by that covered wildland fire.