S. 2015 Reported by committee Public Lands and Natural Resources

National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to encourage and expand the use of prescribed fire on land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Forest Service, with an emphasis on units of the National Forest System in the western and southeastern United States, to acknowledge and support the long-standing use of cultural burning by Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] Introduced June 10, 2025 Cosponsors 5 (3 R, 2 D) Latest action September 17, 2026

Summary

National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to increase the number and size of prescribed fires conducted on federal lands.
For 10 years, Interior and USDA must annually conduct prescribed fires on federal land so that the total acreage where prescribed fires are conducted is 10% greater than the previous fiscal year. 
Interior and USDA must establish a collaborative prescribed fire program to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to conduct prescribed fires in priority landscapes.
Interior and USDA may enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with states, Indian tribes, counties, municipal governments, fire districts, nongovernmental organizations, or private entities to coordinate prescribed fires on federal land.
Interior and USDA must expand employment opportunities for prescribed fire practitioners, including by expanding hazard pay, supporting underrepresented groups, and establishing additional training centers. 
To address the public health and safety risk of the expanded use of prescribed fire, the Environmental Protection Agency must coordinate with state, tribal, and local air quality agencies to support the environmental review of wildland fires.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Sep 17, 2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 635.
  2. Sep 17, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
  3. Dec 17, 2025 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  4. Jun 10, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  5. Jun 10, 2025 Introduced in Senate

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