National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

# National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 – Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does** The National Prescribed Fire Act would require federal agencies (the USDA and Department of the Interior) to significantly increase controlled burns on federal lands over the next 10 years. Specifically, they would need to expand the acreage burned by prescribed fires by 10% each year compared to the previous year. The bill also creates a program to provide financial assistance to states, tribes, counties, and other organizations to conduct these controlled burns on priority landscapes. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This bill affects federal land management, local communities near federal forests, and the wildfire prevention industry.

Key provisions include: expanding job opportunities for prescribed fire workers (including hazard pay increases), recruiting from underrepresented groups and veterans, and allowing federal agencies to partner with various organizations to coordinate burns. The bill also emphasizes environmental assessment and monitoring to track impacts on air quality and health. **Current Status** The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate. The underlying goal is to reduce catastrophic wildfires through controlled, planned burning, though the bill would need to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the President to become law.