S. 2015

National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

Sponsor: Ron Wyden

5 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

    This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to increase the number and size of prescribed fires conducted on federal lands.

    For 10 years, Interior and USDA must annually conduct prescribed fires on federal land so that the total acreage where prescribed fires are conducted is 10% greater than the previous fiscal year. 

    Interior and USDA must establish a collaborative prescribed fire program to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to conduct prescribed fires in priority landscapes.

    Interior and USDA may enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with states, Indian tribes, counties, municipal governments, fire districts, nongovernmental organizations, or private entities to coordinate prescribed fires on federal land.

    Interior and USDA must expand employment opportunities for prescribed fire practitioners, including by expanding hazard pay, supporting underrepresented groups, and establishing additional training centers. 

    To address the public health and safety risk of the expanded use of prescribed fire, the Environmental Protection Agency must coordinate with state, tribal, and local air quality agencies to support the environmental review of wildland fires.

    Text of the bill

    Expand all

    I Use of funds

    II Facilitating implementation and outreach

    III Reporting

    I Use of funds

    II Facilitating implementation and outreach

    Sec. 201. Cooperative agreements and contracts Changed · Sep 17

    Where this section came from

    1. Jun 10, 2025 · Introduced in Senate Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Jun 10, 2025
    2. Sep 17, 2026 · Reported to Senate Marked up by Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Dec 17, 2025 Reported by Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Sep 17 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
    What changed in the text

    … 9 unchanged passages …

    (d) Long-Term contracts. A cooperative agreement or contract with an eligible entity under subsection (b) may authorize the eligible entity to conduct a series of prescribed fires on Federal land for a period of not longer than 10 years beginning on the date on which the cooperative agreement or contract is entered into .

    What is a markup?

    A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.

    (a) Definition of eligible entity. In this section, the term eligible entity means—

    (1) a State;

    (2) an Indian Tribe;

    (3) a county or municipal government;

    (4) a fire district;

    (5) a nongovernmental organization; and

    (6) a private entity.

    (b) Authorization. The Secretary concerned may enter into a cooperative agreement or contract with an eligible entity to authorize the eligible entity to coordinate, plan, or conduct a prescribed fire on Federal land in accordance with other applicable laws, regulations, and land management plans.

    (c) Subcontracts. The Secretary concerned may authorize a State, an Indian Tribe, or a county that enters into a cooperative agreement or contract under subsection (b) to enter into a subcontract to conduct a prescribed fire on Federal land pursuant to that cooperative agreement or contract, subject to any other terms and conditions that the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate.

    (d) Long-Term contracts. A cooperative agreement or contract with an eligible entity under subsection (b) may authorize the eligible entity to conduct a series of prescribed fires on Federal land for a period of not longer than 10 years beginning on the date on which the cooperative agreement or contract is entered into.

    III Reporting; other matters