S. 443 – Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act

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Updated November 24, 2025 at 2:53 AM UTC

The Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act changes the Stafford Disaster Relief Act so that Indian tribal governments can directly apply for fire‑management assistance declarations and related grants, rather than having to go through a state. It adds a new request procedure for tribal chiefs or governors and requires the President to issue updated regulations within a year. The bill also ensures tribes can still receive aid through state‑requested assistance if a direct tribal request is denied.

Key Provisions

Amends the eligibility language to include "Indian tribal government" alongside state and local governments.
Creates a direct request process: the chief executive of a tribe can submit a fire‑management assistance request to FEMA.
Adds a savings provision so a tribe can still get aid via a state request if its own request is not approved for the same fire.
Requires the President to issue new regulations within one year, authorizing FEMA to receive tribal requests, provide grants directly to tribes, consider tribal welfare, and conduct government‑to‑government consultation.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 6, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 6, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 6, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 6, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 443

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 6 (legislative day, February 5), 2025

Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Rounds) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow Indian tribal governments to directly request fire management assistance declarations and grants, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act.

2.

Indian tribal government eligibility

(a)

In general

Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by inserting , Indian tribal government, before or local government;

(2)

by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as subsections (c) through (f), respectively;

(3)

by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

(b)

Procedure for request

The Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government affected by a fire described in subsection (a) may directly submit a request to authorize assistance under this section.

; and

(4)

by adding at the end the following:

(g)

Savings provision

Nothing in this section shall prohibit an Indian tribal government from receiving assistance under this section pursuant to an authorization made at the request of a State under subsection (b) if assistance is not authorized under this section for the same incident based on a request by the Indian tribal government under subsection (b).

.

(b)

Regulations

(1)

Fire management assistance declaration defined

In this subsection, the term fire management assistance declaration means a declaration approved under section 204.21(a) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations.

(2)

Update

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall issue regulations updating part 204 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a).

(3)

Contents

In issuing the regulations required under paragraph (2), the President shall—

(A)

authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to directly receive a request for a fire management assistance declaration from an Indian tribal government and directly provide related grants and resources to Indian tribal governments;

(B)

clarify that Indian tribal governments for which the President does not grant a request described in subparagraph (A) remain eligible to receive assistance under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) through assistance granted under a fire management assistance declaration made at the request of a State;

(C)

consider the unique conditions that affect the general welfare of Indian tribal governments; and

(D)

enter into government-to-government consultation with Indian tribal governments regarding the regulations.