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. 203. Liability of prescribed fire managers 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

    … 2 unchanged passages …

    (2) Covered entity. The term covered entity means 1 or more persons acting on behalf of a non- Federal entity agency in the service of the United States engaged in a covered activity, if that those non-Federal 1 entity or is more persons are acting— (A) under the direct supervision of a Federal employee agency ; and

    (B) within the scope of a contract or agreement in carrying out that covered activity.

    (b) Indemnity of Federal federal and Tribal tribal employees. The Secretaries, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall develop, for employees involved in covered activities, a voluntary training course describing—

    … 11 unchanged passages …

    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) Definitions. In this section:

    (1) Covered activity. The term covered activity means an activity carried out on Federal land directly related to a wildland fire, prescribed fire, or prescribed fire with cultural objectives in the course of executing a Federal action.

    (2) Covered entity. The term covered entity means 1 or more persons acting on behalf of a Federal agency in the service of the United States engaged in a covered activity, if those 1 or more persons are acting—

    (A) under the direct supervision of a Federal agency; and

    (B) within the scope of a contract or agreement in carrying out that covered activity.

    (b) Indemnity of federal and tribal employees. The Secretaries, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall develop, for employees involved in covered activities, a voluntary training course describing—

    (1) liability protections afforded to those employees when acting within the scope of their employment;

    (2) the limits on any liability protections under paragraph (1); and

    (3) reimbursements available for qualified employees for professional liability insurance under section 636 of division A of Public Law 104–208 (5 U.S.C. prec. 5941 note).

    (c) Indemnity of other cooperators

    (1) In general. Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a covered entity shall be considered to be an employee of the Federal Government for purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Tort Claims Act), while that covered entity is engaged in covered activities.

    (2) Guidance. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall issue guidance on the necessary provisions and implementation requirements for contracts or agreements that would extend liability protections to covered entities under paragraph (1).

    (3) Reimbursement. Beginning in the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall request, through annual appropriations, funds sufficient to reimburse the Treasury for any claims paid during the prior fiscal year pursuant to paragraph (1).

    (d) Effect. Nothing in this section limits or otherwise affects—

    (1) the application of any statutory or judicial immunity to Federal employees;

    (2) the application of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Tort Claims Act), to Federal employees; or

    (3) the application of section 314 of Public Law 101–512 (25 U.S.C. 5321 note).

    III Reporting; other matters