S. 3149 – Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act

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Updated November 23, 2025 at 7:55 PM UTC

The Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act lets the U.S. Department of Agriculture waive the usual cost‑share (matching‑fund) rules for projects that respond to wildland fires caused by USDA management on National Forest lands. By removing the matching‑fund requirement, affected states, tribes, localities, and individuals can receive full federal funding to repair damage and restore watersheds. The bill targets recovery projects tied to fires the Secretary determines were the result of federal land‑management actions.

Key Provisions

Defines a “covered matching requirement” as any federal wildland‑fire recovery program that normally requires a state, tribe, locality, or individual to provide cash matching funds.
Defines a “covered wildland fire” as a fire the Secretary of Agriculture determines resulted from management activities on National Forest System land.
Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to waive any such matching‑fund requirement for projects that address damage from a covered wildland fire in the affected area, meaning those projects can receive 100 % federal funding.
Applies to all eligible parties—states, Indian tribes, local governments, or private individuals—seeking recovery assistance for direct or indirect damages caused by those fires.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

November 6, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 6, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

November 6, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued November 6, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 3149

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 6, 2025

Mr. Luján (for himself, Mrs. Fischer, and Ms. Lummis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

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.