H.R. 5652 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Sep 30, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryIncreases federal help for wildfire response
This bill makes changes to how the federal government helps pay for wildfire firefighting. Right now, the federal government covers exactly 75% of costs when states and local areas fight fires. The bill would let that percentage go higher in some cases, especially when a fire's costs get really large. It also removes a rule that prevents states from getting reimbursed when they position their own firefighting equipment ahead of time in high-risk fire areas.
How it affects you
If you live in a state that experiences wildfires, this could mean your state and local governments get more federal money to fight them and prepare for them. That might ease the financial burden on your community when wildfires strike. The bill doesn't directly change what individuals do, but it affects how state and local fire services are funded during emergencies.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Sep 30, 2025)
Wildfire Recovery Act
This bill provides flexibility to increase the federal cost share for the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It also requires updates to FMAG policy to remove limitations on reimbursement for predeployment of firefighting assets.
Under current law, FEMA’s regulations require a 75% federal cost share for FMAG assistance and do not permit adjustments. The bill establishes FMAG’s 75% federal cost share as a minimum, providing flexibility for such percentage to be increased in certain instances. It also requires FEMA to establish by regulation criteria through which FEMA may recommend the President increase FMAG’s federal cost share above 75%. Such criteria must include a financial threshold, relating to the costs of state or local government response to a fire triggering FMAG assistance, above which FEMA may recommend the President increase the federal cost share.
Also, currently, FMAG may reimburse costs for pre-positioning firefighting resources into areas of higher fire danger up to 21 days before a declared fire. However, under current FMAG policy, costs for pre-positioning state or local government-owned resources within their own state are ineligible. The bill requires FEMA to update FMAG grants policy to allow reimbursement for predeployment of domestic assets by state, local, or Indian tribal governments in a manner consistent with other FEMA programs.
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. 5652
A BILL
Wildfire Recovery Act
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO-2) · Introduced Sep 30, 2025 · Emergency Management · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 1, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.”