Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
This bill amends Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the Federal share of fire management assistance be at least 75 percent for eligible costs and makes that change applicable to amounts appropriated on or after enactment.
Support level: liberals strongly supportive; conservatives substantially skeptical
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill clearly makes a focused substantive change to the Stafford Act by setting a minimum Federal cost share, requires a FEMA-led rulemaking, and directs a policy update, but it leaves substantial implementation detail (funding, definitions, eligibility criteria, and safeguards) to future agency rulemaking or absent entirely.
This bill amends Section 420 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the Federal share of fire management assistance be at least 75 percent for eligible costs and makes that change applicable to amounts appropriated on or after enactment.
It directs FEMA to complete a rulemaking within three years establishing criteria for when the Administrator may recommend increasing the Federal cost share for that section.
Modest-to-strong bipartisan policy logic and limited scope increase chances, but added federal cost and budget tradeoffs lower probability.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill clearly makes a focused substantive change to the Stafford Act by setting a minimum Federal cost share, requires a FEMA-led rulemaking, and directs a policy update, but it leaves substantial implementation detail (funding, definitions, eligibility criteria, and safeguards) to future agency rulemaking or absent entirely.
Support level: liberals strongly supportive; conservatives substantially skeptical
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Support level: liberals strongly supportive; conservatives substantially skeptical
Overall supportive: sees the bill as strengthening federal backing for wildfire response and helping states, Tribal, and local governments manage costly fire suppression.
Views predeployment reimbursement as an equity and preparedness win for under-resourced jurisdictions, though would prefer stronger links to prevention and climate resilience.
Cautiously supportive: appreciates clearer minimum federal cost share and reimbursement for predeployment, which aids planning and response.
Wants clearer definitions, fiscal guards, and timely rulemaking to limit unintended spending and ensure program integrity.
Skeptical: concerned this increases federal fiscal liability and encourages dependency by states on federal suppression funding.
Views predeployment reimbursement and a guaranteed federal floor as possible moral hazard and federal overreach unless paired with stronger state responsibility and strict criteria.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Modest-to-strong bipartisan policy logic and limited scope increase chances, but added federal cost and budget tradeoffs lower probability.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Support level: liberals strongly supportive; conservatives substantially skeptical
Modest-to-strong bipartisan policy logic and limited scope increase chances, but added federal cost and budget tradeoffs lower probability.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill clearly makes a focused substantive change to the Stafford Act by setting a minimum Federal cost share, requires a FEMA-led rulemaking, and directs a policy update, b…
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