S. 349Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025

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Updated November 24, 2025 at 3:12 AM UTC

The Fire‑Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025 lets the U.S. Department of Agriculture approve the cutting of trees and vegetation near power lines on National Forest System lands without needing a separate timber sale. The authority applies to special‑use permits or easements given to electric utilities and must follow existing land‑management plans and environmental regulations. Any money the utility earns from selling the removed material must be turned over to the Forest Service, after transport costs, though the law does not force a sale.

Key Provisions

Allows the Secretary of Agriculture, via the Forest Service, to permit tree and vegetation removal around distribution and transmission lines on National Forest lands without a timber sale, provided it complies with land‑use plans and environmental laws.
Requires utilities that sell the removed material to remit the proceeds (minus transportation costs) to the Secretary of Agriculture.
Specifies that the law does not obligate utilities to sell the removed material; the sale is optional.

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

January 30, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 30, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

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

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

January 30, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 30, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 349

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 30, 2025

Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Daines) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to permit removal of trees around electrical lines on National Forest System land without conducting a timber sale, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025.

Permits and agreements with electrical utilities

(a)

In general

In any special use permit or easement on National Forest System land provided to an electrical utility, the Secretary of Agriculture may provide permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation from within the vicinity of distribution lines or transmission lines without requiring a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is consistent with—

(1)

the applicable land and resource management plan; and

(2)

other applicable environmental laws (including regulations).

(b)

Use of proceeds

A special use permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a) shall include a requirement that, if the applicable electrical utility sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement, the electrical utility shall provide to the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, any proceeds received from the sale, less any transportation costs incurred in the sale.

(c)

Effect

Nothing in subsection (b) shall require the sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a).