H.R. 10917 · 119th Congress · Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, 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.
Wildfire Emergency Act of 2026: Forests, Home Upgrades, and Fire Training
Wildfire Emergency Act of 2026
Deep dive October 29, 2026
This bill pays for wildfire prevention. It funds forest restoration, backup power for hospitals and schools, and fire-resistant home upgrades. It also builds new training centers for forestry and firefighting workers.
What to know
- The Forest Service can sign up to 20 deals with private investors. These deals fund forest restoration. They can spend up to $250 million over 10 years.
- The bill gives $100 million for backup power. This helps hospitals, schools, and other key buildings. It pays for things like solar panels and batteries.
- It raises limits on home weatherization spending. Homes can now get fire-resistant upgrades worth up to $13,000. The old limit was $6,500.
- It speeds up the use of wildfire sensors. This includes cameras and satellite tracking tools. These will go on federal land faster.
- It creates new training centers in western states. These centers teach controlled burn methods. They also teach wildfire science.
- It funds job training for forestry and firefighting workers. It also gives $50 million to local groups. These groups manage forests near disadvantaged communities.
Heads up
3 buried provisions
Provisions we flagged do not match the bill's stated purpose, or repeat language from bills that did not pass on their own.
Advisory panel exempt from open-meeting rules (Section 303(e)(3))
Why we flagged this
This small line exempts the new advisory panel from a key federal law. That law (the Federal Advisory Committee Act) sets rules for open meetings and public records. The exemption means the panel can meet without those checks. It is easy to miss in a long bill.
Show the exact bill text
The advisory panel established under paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
Secretary may raise weatherization cost cap at will (Section 202(b)(2))
Why we flagged this
The bill sets an average spending cap of $13,000 per home. But it lets the Secretary pick a higher amount with no limit named. The only test is that the Secretary finds it "necessary." That vague wording ties to open-ended federal spending.
Show the exact bill text
another average amount that is greater than the amount described in clause (i), if the Secretary determines it necessary to waive or adjust the average amount established under that clause.
Cancellation payments to private project developers (Section 103(e)(2)(D))
Why we flagged this
If Congress stops funding a project, the government must still pay the private developer. These payments can top $25 million per deal. The money can come from other existing accounts. This creates a large financial duty that is easy to miss in the fine print.
Show the exact bill text
the Secretary shall pay the conservation finance project developer the Federal share of the cancellation or termination costs under the agreement pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) up to the limitation on cancellation or termination costs applicable to the agreement if funding for the completion of the agreement is not appropriated.
Section by section
Table of contents for the Wildfire Emergency Act
This section gives the law its short name, the Wildfire Emergency Act of 2026. It also lists all the parts of the bill. The bill has three main titles. Title I deals with restoring forests across large areas. Title II focuses on helping communities resist wildfires, including power backup systems and home upgrades. Title III covers research, training, and building local skills to fight and manage fire. This section does not create any new rules or spending. It just maps out what the rest of the bill contains.
This section affects readers of the bill, including lawmakers, agencies, and the public who need to find specific parts of the law.
There is no real tradeoff here, since this section only organizes the bill and does not set policy.
Show the exact bill text
This Act may be cited as the Wildfire Emergency Act of 2026 .
Key terms for forest conservation financing
This section sets up definitions used later in the bill. It explains a new tool called a conservation finance agreement. This lets private investors pay upfront costs for forest restoration projects. People or groups who benefit from the work pay that money back over time. The section defines who counts as a project investor, developer, and beneficiary. It also points to other laws and programs tied to these projects, like the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program. These terms set the stage for a pilot program described later in the bill.
This affects the U.S. Forest Service, private investors, nonprofit groups, and local or Tribal governments that take part in forest restoration funding deals.
This setup lets forest restoration start sooner using private money, but it means taxpayers or beneficiaries may owe cancellation payments if government funding does not come through later.
Show the exact bill text
The term conservation finance agreement means a mutual benefit agreement (excluding a procurement contract, grant, or cooperative agreement described in chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code) for a conservation finance project
Large-scale forest restoration pilot program
This section sets goals for a new pilot program on national forests. The program would let the Forest Service use conservation finance agreements. These agreements bring in money from non-federal partners, not just Congress. The goal is to fund big land projects, often 100,000 acres or more. Projects would focus on controlled burns, wildfire used to help ecosystems, and restoring damaged land and water areas. They would also aim to lower the risk of severe wildfires. The section requires ecological standards and teamwork for these big projects. It also calls for coordination between federal, state, local, and tribal groups.
This affects the Forest Service, state and tribal governments, local communities near national forests, and private investors or partners who may help fund projects.
The program could speed up large wildfire prevention work and bring in outside money, but it relies on new financial partnerships that may be complex to manage and oversee.
Show the exact bill text
authorizing a pilot program with conservation finance agreement authority to leverage other Federal and non-Federal investment (in addition to funds appropriated to the Forest Service) in landscape-scale, multistakeholder land management activities and related natural and built infrastructure and associated local employment opportunities
New funding tool for forest fire prevention projects
This section creates a test program for paying for wildfire prevention work. The Secretary can sign deals with private companies or nonprofits to pay for removing dead trees and brush that fuel wildfires. These deals are called conservation finance agreements. The government can sign up to 20 of these deals. It can spend up to $250 million total over 10 years, and no more than $50 million on any single deal. Projects on large areas, especially 100,000 acres or more, get priority. If Congress does not provide money to continue a deal, it must be canceled or changed. The section explains how to pay any cancellation costs. Non-federal partners must usually cover at least 40 percent of project costs, though the government can cover more for projects that mainly help low-income communities.
This affects the U.S. Forest Service, private companies and nonprofits that do forest restoration work, and communities near fire-prone forests.
The program lets private partners help fund wildfire prevention faster, but it risks costly contract cancellations if Congress does not keep funding the agreements.
Show the exact bill text
The Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary may enter into a conservation finance agreement with a public or private person, including a for-profit or nonprofit organization, to carry out a conservation finance project
Report on forest finance program results
This section requires a report on a pilot program. The program lets the government make conservation finance deals for forest restoration. Within four years, the Secretary must send a report to four congressional committees. The report must list all finance agreements made and what they achieved. It must also judge if the pilot program worked well. This includes checking if it brought in private money for forest projects. It also checks if it helped build infrastructure, increased controlled burns, created jobs, or protected water supplies. Finally, the report must identify any problems that stopped the program from growing or scared off investors.
This affects the Secretary of the relevant department, congressional committees, and groups investing in forest restoration projects.
This creates oversight and accountability for the pilot program, but it requires time and resources to track and write the report.
Show the exact bill text
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report evaluating the implementation of this title
Backup power program for hospitals, schools, and other critical buildings
This section creates a new program at the Department of Energy. The program helps critical facilities get better backup power. Critical facilities include hospitals, fire stations, police stations, jails, schools, water plants, and tribal and federal buildings. The program supports microgrids, solar and other renewable energy, battery storage, and smaller generators. It also funds technical help and public information about keeping power on during extreme weather. The Secretary of Energy must ask utilities, state regulators, local governments, and other groups for input before setting up the program. Congress would provide $100 million for this work, and up to 10 percent can go to administrative costs.
Hospitals, schools, police and fire stations, jails, water utilities, tribal facilities, federal buildings, and electric utilities and regulators who help plan the program.
Critical facilities could get more reliable power during emergencies, but taxpayers fund the $100 million cost and some money goes to program administration instead of direct equipment.
Show the exact bill text
to improve the energy resilience and power needs of critical facilities through the development and use of microgrids, renewable energy, energy efficiency, reduced electricity demand, and on-site storage
Fire-resistant home weatherization upgrades
This section updates a federal home weatherization program. It adds fire-resistant materials to the list of approved weatherization materials. States can now require homes to use fire- and drought-resistant materials, like mass timber. States can also require wildfire and drought prevention planning for homes getting upgrades. The section raises spending limits for this work. The average cost limit per home goes from $6,500 to $13,000, and will rise with inflation. The Secretary can approve an even higher average if needed. A separate cost cap rises from $3,000 to $6,000, also adjusted for inflation each year.
Homeowners who qualify for federal weatherization help, state agencies that run the program, and contractors who do the work.
Higher spending limits allow more fire-resistant upgrades, but they also mean the program costs more per home.
Show the exact bill text
materials that are resistant to high heat and fire; and .
Better tools to spot and track wildfires
This section adds new duties to an existing forest law. It tells the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to speed up the placement of wildfire detection tools. These include sensors, cameras, and other equipment in fire-risk areas. The agencies must also use more satellite data and mobile tech. This helps track fires and keep firefighters safer. The section tells agencies to speed up permits needed for this equipment. It also tells them to review old permit and purchase rules to fit newer technology. Agencies must share non-sensitive wildfire data with the public when it is safe to do so. Finally, they must use new tools to study how well past fire responses worked.
Federal land agencies (Forest Service and Interior Department), wildland firefighters, and people living in fire-prone areas.
Faster permits and more data sharing can speed up wildfire detection, but moving quickly on permits and new technology may increase costs or reduce careful review.
Show the exact bill text
expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment, such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant equipment, in areas at risk of wildfire
New training centers for prescribed fire and wildfire risk
This section tells the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to set up one or more centers. These centers will train people in prescribed fire methods. Prescribed fire is a planned, controlled burn used to lower wildfire risk. The centers will also study wildfire science, weather forecasting, and air quality. They must work with colleges or universities. They must team up with federal, state, and tribal partners. The centers must sit in a state west of the 100th meridian, a line that splits the country roughly in half. The agencies must pick a location within one year of this law passing.
This affects federal land agencies, universities, wildfire researchers, and communities in western states facing wildfire risk.
The centers could improve wildfire prevention and research, but they will cost money and take time to plan and build.
Show the exact bill text
The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the Secretaries ) shall establish 1 or more centers to train individuals in prescribed fire methods and other methods relevant to the mitigation of wildfire risk (referred to in this section as a center ).
Grants to train forestry and firefighting workers
This section creates a grant program run by the Secretary of Agriculture. The grants help train people for jobs in forestry and fire management. These jobs include wildland firefighting, timber work, prescribed fire crews, and forest restoration. Groups like colleges, schools, labor unions, and nonprofits can apply for the money. They can use it for internships, apprenticeships, school programs, and new training courses. The goal is to build a skilled workforce that can manage forests and reduce wildfire risk. The section does not set a specific dollar amount. It says Congress can approve whatever money is needed.
Students, job seekers, and workers in forestry and firefighting fields. Also community colleges, schools, labor unions, and state agencies that run training programs.
The program could build a stronger wildfire and forestry workforce, but it has no spending cap, so costs could grow without a fixed limit.
Show the exact bill text
The Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program— (1) to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development in forestry and fire management and opportunities for careers in forestry and fire management
Grants for community land stewardship near forests
This section sets up a grant program run by the Forest Service. It gives money to local groups so they can help care for national forests and grasslands. Groups must be based in or represent disadvantaged communities, like low-income areas or communities that faced discrimination. The grants can pay for planning, teamwork, and hands-on work like restoring habitats or reducing wildfire risk. Each grant can be up to $50,000 per year, and the government can cover the full cost. At least 10 percent of the money must go to Indian Tribes. An advisory panel will check each year how well the program is working. The Forest Service must also send Congress a report after four years. The program gets $50 million for 2027 through 2031.
Nonprofits, local governments, Indian Tribes, and special districts in or near disadvantaged communities. It also affects communities living near national forests and grasslands.
The program funds local land care and wildfire protection, but it limits grants to specific groups and caps funding at $50,000 per year, which may not cover larger projects.
Show the exact bill text
The amount of a grant issued under paragraph (1) shall be not more than $50,000 per year.
Citations
- Congress.gov bill text: link (retrieved 2026-10-29)
Public record
Below is the official voting record from Congress.gov. It is not our analysis.
Source: Congress.gov
This bill has no recorded roll-call vote yet. A roll-call vote records how each member voted by name.
Help keep this free. Support this work.
to get an email when it changes. Part of email alerts, $5 a month.