S. 160 · Where this bill is now
Became law
Public Law 119-18, Jun 12, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands military aircraft use for wildfire fighting
This bill lets the Department of Defense sell its extra aircraft and aircraft parts that can be safely used commercially to help fight wildfires. It also expands what these aircraft can do: previously they could only drop fire retardant, but now they'd be able to drop water too. Additionally, it removes limits on using these aircraft to help suppress wildfires internationally.
How it affects you
If you live in an area prone to wildfires, this could mean more aircraft available to help fight fires in your region. The changes take effect in June 2025 and last until October 2035, so firefighting agencies would have a decade-plus window to access these military resources for wildfire suppression.
Read the official summary (Public Law, Jun 12, 2025)
Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
This act reauthorizes the Department of Defense to sell its excess aircraft and aircraft parts that are acceptable for commercial sale for wildfire suppression purposes. Such authority begins June 12, 2025, and ends October 1, 2035.
The act also provides that such aircraft may be used to deliver water by air in order to suppress wildfire (the previous authority only provided for the delivery of fire retardant).
The act removes the previous limitation on providing international wildfire suppression assistance with such purchased aircraft.
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 SessionS. 160
AN ACT
Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) · Introduced Jan 21, 2025 · Armed Forces and National Security · 3 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jun 12, 2025: “Became Public Law No: 119-18.”