Fix Our Forests Act
Where it stands
- Introduced1/16/25
- Passed HousePassed 1/23/25
- Senate
- President
- Law
Passed the House 279–141 on January 23, 2025 (Roll Call 25 →). Received in the Senate on January 28, 2025.
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Roll calls on this bill
- Democratic64 Yea · 141 Nay · 10 Not voting
- Republican215 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Not voting
- Independent / Other0 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
Fix Our Forests Act
This bill establishes requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and implementing forest management projects and other activities.
Specifically, the bill (1) designates certain firesheds at high risk for wildfires as fireshed management areas; (2) directs the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey to jointly establish an interagency Fireshed Center that is responsible for duties related to assessing and predicting fire, including maintaining a fireshed registry on a publicly accessible website that provides interactive geospatial data on individual firesheds; and (3) makes other requirements related to reducing wildfire.
Next, the bill expedites the review of certain forest management projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and exempts certain activities from NEPA review. It also establishes intra-agency strike teams to accelerate the review and any interagency consultation processes under NEPA, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the National Historic Preservation Act. It also limits consultation requirements concerning threatened and endangered species under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976. Finally, it limits litigation involving fireshed management projects and limits remedies that courts may provide.
Additionally, the bill supports reducing community wildfire risks, carrying out forest restoration and stewardship activities (including watershed protection and restoration), conducting biochar demonstration projects, advancing technologies to address forest wildfires, and assisting wildland firefighters and their families.
56
1/16/25
What happens next
The Senate must pass the same text, then it goes to the President.
If it isn't enacted by Jan 3, 2027, it expires when the 119th Congress ends.
All actions (20)
- 1/16/25Introduced in House
- 1/16/25Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
- 1/21/25Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 53 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 471 and S. 5. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 471 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of S. 5 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to commit.
- 1/23/25Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 53. (consideration: CR H312-335)
- 1/23/25Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 471 and S. 5. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 471 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of S. 5 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to commit.
- 1/23/25House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 53 and Rule XVIII.
- 1/23/25The Speaker designated the Honorable Dale W. Strong to act as Chairman of the Committee.
- 1/23/25GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 471.
- 1/23/25DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 53, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Perry amendment No. 1.
- 1/23/25DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 53, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Carbajal amendment No. 2.
- 1/23/25The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 471.
- 1/23/25The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- 1/23/25The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
- 1/23/25POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 471, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Peters demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- 1/23/25Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H346-347)
- 1/23/25Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333)
- 1/23/25On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333)
- 1/23/25Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 1/28/25Received in the Senate.
- 3/6/25Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-27.