S. 91
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2026
Sponsor: Catherine Cortez Masto
1 cosponsor
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
This bill addresses wildfires by authorizing post-fire recovery activities, supporting adoption of technology, and requiring additional federal coordination.
The bill authorizes federal wildfire response and recovery activities by
- providing statutory authority for Burned Area Emergency Response Teams to coordinate emergency stabilization and erosion planning, and
- establishing an account to fund federal rehabilitation projects in areas impacted by a wildfire (e.g., ecosystem restoration, replacing infrastructure critical for land management).
Additionally, for all hazard types, the bill includes post-disaster assistance in the federal disaster preparedness program and authorizes assistance to states for operating websites to provide information on post-disaster recovery resources.
The bill requires federal agencies to develop and utilize technologies for managing wildfires by
- expediting the permitting and use of wildfire detection equipment (e.g., sensors, cameras);
- providing funding to Indian tribes for slip-on tanker units that convert vehicles into fire engines;
- performing research and development on wildfire response applications of unmanned aircraft systems (e.g., drones);
- studying radio communications systems, situational awareness tools, and wildland fire predictive modeling; and
- administering a prize competition for technological innovation for managing wildfire-related invasive species.
The bill directs federal agencies to plan and coordinate on wildfire management by
- incorporating the best available science and planning tools into spatial fire management policies for federal lands,
- collaborating with state agencies for mutual aid in fire suppression (including reimbursing states for suppressing fires caused by military operations), and
- studying training gaps for integrating structural (e.g., local) firefighters into wildfire response.
Text of the bill
I Preparation
II Wildfire detection and suppression support
III Post-fire recovery support
I Preparation
II Wildfire detection and suppression support
Where this section came from
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Jan 14, 2025 · Introduced in Senate Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Jan 14, 2025
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Sep 17, 2026 · Reported to Senate Marked up by Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Feb 4 Reported by Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Sep 17 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
… 2 unchanged passages …
(1) In general. The Secretary
of the Interior
shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives an annual report on the implementation of section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), including a description of— (A) the total number of slip-on tanker units purchased with financial assistance provided by the Secretary
of the Interior
under that section in the preceding year, by State; (B) the number of requests received by the Secretary
of the Interior
for financial assistance under that section to purchase slip-on tanker units in the preceding year; and (C) any barriers identified by the Secretary
of the Interior
to the ability of local governments and Indian Tribes to participate in the pilot program established under that section.
(2) Timing.
(A) Initial report. The Secretary
of the Interior
shall submit the first report required under paragraph (1) not later than October 1,
2026
2027
. (B) Sunset. The requirements of this subsection shall expire on October 1,
2028
2029
.
… 1 unchanged passage …
(1)
in coordination with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration, promulgate guidance for the mobilization of slip-on tanker units for wildfire response; (2)
as practicable, incorporate mobilized slip-on tanker units into resource tracking systems; and (
3
2
) collaborate with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration regarding any necessary training for operators of slip-on tanker units.
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) Financial assistance for acquisition of firefighting slip-on tanker units. Section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)) is amended by inserting and Indian Tribes after local governments.
(b) Reporting requirement
(1) In general. The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives an annual report on the implementation of section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), including a description of—
(A) the total number of slip-on tanker units purchased with financial assistance provided by the Secretary under that section in the preceding year, by State;
(B) the number of requests received by the Secretary for financial assistance under that section to purchase slip-on tanker units in the preceding year; and
(C) any barriers identified by the Secretary to the ability of local governments and Indian Tribes to participate in the pilot program established under that section.
(2) Timing
(A) Initial report. The Secretary shall submit the first report required under paragraph (1) not later than October 1, 2027.
(B) Sunset. The requirements of this subsection shall expire on October 1, 2029.
(c) Integration into wildfire response. The Secretaries, in coordination with recipients of financial assistance for slip-on tanker units provided under section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), shall—
(1) as practicable, incorporate mobilized slip-on tanker units into resource tracking systems; and
(2) collaborate with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration regarding any necessary training for operators of slip-on tanker units.
III Post-fire recovery support