This bill establishes forest management requirements to reduce wildfires on federal lands. It sets goals to increase mechanical thinning and prescribed burns by 40% by FY2029. The Forest Service and BLM must track hazardous fuels reduction, develop livestock grazing strategies for fire risk reduction, and pilot wildfire technology programs. Local governments and tribes can intervene in lawsuits affecting forest projects.
Latest Action
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill establishes forest management requirements to reduce wildfires on federal lands. It sets goals to increase mechanical thinning and prescribed burns by 40% by FY2029. The Forest Service and BLM must track hazardous fuels reduction, develop livestock grazing strategies for fire risk reduction, and pilot wildfire technology programs. Local governments and tribes can intervene in lawsuits affecting forest projects.
Last updated: 1/4/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p>This bill establishes forest management requirements for federal lands, particularly with respect to reducing wildfires. </p><p>For example, the bill establishes annual goals to increase (1) the number of acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land that are mechanically thinned (i.e., a management process related to the removal of trees and vegetation); and (2) the number of acres of Forest Service and BLM land treated by prescribed fire. By FY2029, the goals must be to increase the number of acres of each by at least 40% compared to the average number of acres of each in FY2019-FY2023.</p><p>The bill also directs the Forest Service and the BLM to (1) implement standardized procedures for tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction activities they carry out, and (2) develop a strategy to identify opportunities to use livestock grazing as a wildfire risk reduction tool on federal land. Additionally, the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior must establish a deployment and test bed pilot program for wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation technologies.</p><p>The bill mandates use of existing authorities for expedited environmental review for certain forest land at high risk from wildfire, insects, or disease.</p><p>Finally, the bill provides local governments and Indian tribes the right to intervene in lawsuits concerning certain projects on federal land that (1) reduce risks posed by wildfire, insects, or disease; or (2) generate revenue from harvesting timber.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
40% increase in mechanical thinning and prescribed burns by FY2029
Standardized tracking of hazardous fuels reduction activities
Livestock grazing strategy for wildfire risk reduction
Wildfire technology pilot program
Tribal and local government intervention rights in forest project lawsuits
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This comprehensive wildfire legislation addresses the buildup of hazardous fuels in federal forests. The quantitative goals create accountability for expanded forest management. Allowing local governments and tribes to defend forest projects in court counters environmental litigation that has delayed treatments. The bill reflects growing consensus that active management is essential to reduce catastrophic fire risk.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Related Subjects
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Land use and conservation
Livestock
Performance measurement
Public-private cooperation
+1 more
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
140, 119th Congress (2025). "Wildfire Prevention Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-140
