H.R. 1655 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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, Feb 27, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySpeeds up wildfire-damaged communications repairs
When a major wildfire hits an area, getting communications infrastructure back online can take time—especially if projects have to go through federal environmental and historic preservation reviews. This bill speeds things up by exempting certain post-wildfire communications projects from those reviews. Specifically, it applies to projects started within five years of a wildfire disaster, located in the disaster area, that either replace damaged communications facilities or improve them to help with recovery or prevent future disasters.
How it affects you
If you live in an area hit by a major wildfire, this could mean faster restoration of phone, internet, and other communications services. Communities recovering from wildfires would see communications infrastructure rebuilt more quickly, though the bill doesn't change environmental or historic preservation rules for other types of projects.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 27, 2025)
Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act
This bill exempts certain post-wildfire communications infrastructure projects from specified federal environmental and historic preservation review requirements.
Specifically, the bill exempts from review projects that (1) are to be carried out within five years of the declaration of a wildfire-related major disaster or emergency in a given area; (2) are to be carried out entirely within the area for which the major disaster or emergency was declared; and (3) will replace a communications facility damaged by the major disaster or emergency, or make improvements to a communications facility that are necessary for recovery or to prevent or mitigate a future major disaster or emergency. To qualify under the bill, a major disaster or emergency must have been declared by the President, a state governor, or a tribal chief executive.
The bill specifies that these projects are not considered major federal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or undertakings under the National Historic Preservation Act, thus exempting such projects from the review procedures required under those acts.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1655
A BILL
Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act
Sponsor: Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR-2) · Introduced Feb 27, 2025 · Science, Technology, Communications · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jun 10, 2025: “Subcommittee Hearings Held”