National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

(a) Funding flexibility

(1) Department of Agriculture. Of the funds appropriated for each fiscal year for hazardous fuels management in the National Forest System, the Secretary of Agriculture may use not more than 15 percent to carry out the activities described in subsection (b), in addition to any amounts otherwise available to carry out those activities.

(2) Department of the Interior. Of the funds appropriated for each fiscal year for hazardous fuels management and post-fire activities in the account for wildland fire management of the Department of the Interior, the Secretary may use not more than 15 percent to carry out the activities described in subsection (b), in addition to any amounts otherwise available to carry out those activities.

(b) Description of activities. The activities referred to in subsection (a) are—

(1) with respect to prescribed fires on Federal land, or on non-Federal land if the Secretary concerned determines that such activities would benefit resources on Federal land—

(A) entering into procurement contracts or cooperative agreements for prescribed fire activities;

(B) issuing grants to a State, a Tribal government, a local government, a prescribed fire council, a prescribed burn association, or a nonprofit organization for the implementation of prescribed fires, including—

(i) carrying out necessary environmental reviews;

(ii) carrying out any site preparation necessary for implementing prescribed fires; and

(iii) conducting any required pre-ignition cultural or environmental surveys; and

(C) conducting outreach to the public, Indian Tribes and beneficiaries, and adjacent landowners;

(2) implementing prescribed fires on non-Federal land, if the Secretary concerned determines that the prescribed fire would benefit Federal land, including—

(A) carrying out necessary environmental reviews;

(B) carrying out any site preparation necessary for implementing prescribed fires; and

(C) conducting any required pre-ignition cultural and environmental surveys;

(3) providing to Federal employees and cooperators training for prescribed fire and basic smoke management practices;

(4) conducting post-prescribed fire activities, such as monitoring for hazard trees or reignitions and invasive species management;

(5) providing technical or financial assistance to a State, Tribal government, local government, prescribed fire council, prescribed burn association, or nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing training for prescribed fire or basic smoke management practices, consistent with any standards developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group or State prescribed fire standards; and

(6) providing funding for the applicable Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program established under section 103.

(c) Prioritization

(1) In general. Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned shall coordinate with the other Secretary concerned, State and local government agencies, Indian Tribes, and other applicable nongovernmental entities to establish prioritization criteria for expending amounts pursuant to subsection (a) for activities described in paragraphs (2), (5), and (6) of subsection (b).

(2) Requirement. In establishing criteria under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall give priority to a project that is—

(A) implemented across a large contiguous area;

(B) cross-boundary in nature;

(C) in an area that is—

(i) within or adjacent to the wildland-urban interface and identified as a priority area in a statewide forest action plan or Community Wildfire Protection Plan; or

(ii) identified as important to the protection of a Tribal trust resource or the reserved or treaty rights of an Indian Tribe;

(D) on land that is at high or very high risk of experiencing a wildfire that would be difficult to suppress;

(E) in an area that is designated as critical habitat and in need of ecological restoration or enhancement that can be achieved with the aid of prescribed fire;

(F) supportive of potential operational delineations or strategic response zones; or

(G) for the purpose of maintaining existing fuels treatments in an area.