Fix Our Forests Act would speed up wildfire prevention on federal land

What does this do?

HR 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, would establish a Fireshed Center to use data and artificial intelligence to track and predict wildfire risks nationwide. The bill designates the most fire-prone federal and tribal lands as fireshed management areas and fast-tracks forest management work there, including thinning trees, clearing dead wood, controlled burns, and vegetation management. It also reduces environmental review steps that currently slow down such work in high-risk zones.

Who does it affect?

Residents living near national forests and public lands in fire-prone states, particularly in the American West, are most directly affected, along with federally recognized tribes, local governments, logging contractors, and ranchers holding federal grazing permits. Environmental groups would face new limits on their ability to use courts to stop or delay forest management projects.

Why does it matter?

Reducing environmental review requirements could allow agencies to act more quickly in high-risk areas but may limit outside legal challenges to those decisions. Tribes and local governments would gain expanded partnership roles in land management, while wildland firefighter families would have access to a new support program for deaths and injuries on the job.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• Grants available to local governments and tribes
• Firefighter family support program included
• No funding amounts specified

Where does it stand?