ACERO Act

House Bill

H.R. 390

119th Congress

ACERO Act

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

Introduced:Feb 23, 2026

Primary Sponsor

Vince Fong

R - CA

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Summary

The ACERO Act officially authorizes NASA to lead a program using drones and advanced aviation technology to fight wildfires more effectively. The bill focuses on improving coordination between federal, state, and local firefighting teams by creating a real-time information system that tracks all aircraft responding to wildfires, preventing dangerous mid-air conflicts and improving response efficiency.

Latest Action

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

Introduced2/23/2026

StatusThe title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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The ACERO Act officially authorizes NASA to lead a program using drones and advanced aviation technology to fight wildfires more effectively. The bill focuses on improving coordination between federal, state, and local firefighting teams by creating a real-time information system that tracks all aircraft responding to wildfires, preventing dangerous mid-air conflicts and improving response efficiency.

Bill Number: 390
Introduced: 2/23/2026
Status: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Policy Area: Science, Technology, Communications

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: ACERO Act
Bill Number: 390
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Introduced: 2/23/2026
Summary: The ACERO Act officially authorizes NASA to lead a program using drones and advanced aviation technology to fight wildfires more effectively. The bill focuses on improving coordination between federal, state, and local firefighting teams by creating a real-time information system that tracks all air

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The ACERO Act officially authorizes NASA to lead a program using drones and advanced aviation technology to fight wildfires more effectively. The bill focuses on improving coordination between federal, state, and local firefighting teams by creating a real-time information system that tracks all aircraft responding to wildfires, preventing dangerous mid-air conflicts and improving response efficiency.

Last updated: 2/23/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act or the ACERO ActThis bill provides statutory authority for the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project. The ACERO project conducts research and development activities regarding aerial response to wildfires using uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and other advanced aviation technologies. It is administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The bill directs the ACERO project to address airspace management and deconfliction during wildfire response efforts, including through real-time information sharing among response teams and the development of a platform to provide situational awareness of aerial assets. The bill also directs the ACERO project to establish a multiagency concept of operations to facilitate the coordination of aerial wildfire response among federal, state, and local government agencies. NASA must consult with other federal agencies and departments to avoid duplication of these efforts. NASA generally may not procure UAS manufactured or assembled by specified foreign entities, including entities domiciled in or controlled by China, for use by the ACERO project.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Empowers NASA to develop and deploy drone technology specifically for wildfire response, potentially enabling firefighting operations at night and in conditions too dangerous for piloted aircraft
Creates a unified system for tracking all aircraft during wildfire emergencies, solving the critical problem of multiple agencies operating in the same airspace without clear coordination
Establishes rules requiring coordination between federal, state, and local firefighting agencies to improve response times and effectiveness during wildfire crises
Prohibits purchasing drones from Chinese manufacturers or other foreign adversaries for this program, prioritizing national security
Addresses the growing wildfire crisis affecting Western states by leveraging cutting-edge technology to protect lives, homes, and natural resources

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would primarily benefit communities in wildfire-prone regions, particularly in Western states like California, by improving the speed and safety of aerial firefighting response. Firefighters and emergency responders would gain better tools and coordination capabilities, while residents in at-risk areas could see faster containment of fires threatening their homes and communities. The technology could also reduce risks to pilots currently flying manned aircraft in dangerous fire conditions.