H.R. 178 · 119th Congress · House

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.

Active· Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-429, Part I.
Introduced
Jan 3, 25
Passed House
Pending
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

This bill sets out requirements for wildfire suppression and management activities carried out by the Forest Service.

These requirements apply to Forest Service land that (1) has a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought intensity rating; (2) has a National Wildland Fire Preparedness level of 5 (i.e., the highest level of wildland fire activity); or (3) is located in a fireshed ranked in the top 10% of wildfire exposure.

Within 24 hours of detecting a wildfire on such Forest Service land, the service must use all available resources to extinguish the wildfire. Additionally, the service may not inhibit the firefighting activities of state and local agencies that are authorized to respond to wildfires on the Forest Service land.

Further, the service may only initiate a backfire or burnout as part of a fire suppression strategy if it is ordered by the responsible incident commander or is necessary to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. The service must use all available resources to control any initiated fire until it is extinguished.

The bill also limits the service's use of prescribed fires (i.e., the controlled application of fire by a team of experts under specified weather conditions to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire). When using prescribed fires as a fire resource management tool, the service must comply with applicable laws and regulations and immediately suppress any prescribed fire that exceeds its prescription.

Action Timeline

6
  1. JAN 08, 2026Library of Congress

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources

    H. Rept. 119-429, Part I.

    119Yea
    429Nay
    0NV
  2. JUL 23, 2025House committee actions

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  3. JUL 23, 2025House committee actions

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  4. FEB 07, 2025House committee actions

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

  5. JAN 03, 2025House floor actions

    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  6. JAN 03, 2025Library of Congress

    Introduced in House

Committees

2

Natural Resources Committee

hsii00

Referred: Jan 8, 2026

Active

Agriculture Committee

hsag00

Referred: Jan 3, 2025

Active