H.R. 582: Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act
This bill, titled the Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act, aims to establish a grant program to help communities develop and implement plans to protect against wildfires. Below are the key components of the bill:
Definitions
The bill defines several terms critical to its implementation, including:
- Administrator: The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- Chief: The Chief of the Forest Service.
- Community protection and wildfire resilience plan: A plan developed by eligible entities (like local governments) to enhance community safety against wildfires.
- Eligible entity: Groups that can apply for grants, including states, local governments, Indian Tribes, and fire departments.
Grant Program Establishment
The bill requires FEMA to establish a program within one year of enactment to award grants to eligible entities. The grants can be used for:
- Implementing community protection and wildfire resilience projects.
- Developing plans if no plan exists.
Prioritization for grants will be given to projects located in high-risk fire areas, as indicated by specific maps and assessments.
Funding and Grant Amounts
The total funding authorized for the grant program is $1 billion per fiscal year from 2025 through 2029. Specific amounts for grants are:
- Up to $10 million for community protection and resilience projects.
- Up to $250,000 for developing resilience plans.
Project Requirements
- Grant recipients are encouraged to hire local contractors and labor when executing projects.
- Recipients must provide at least 25% of project costs from non-federal sources, but this requirement may be waived in certain conditions.
Government Accountability
The bill mandates the Comptroller General to produce two reports within one year of enactment:
- One on federal authorities and programs available to support wildfire protection for communities.
- Another assessing the ability of communities to obtain fire resilience certifications that might help lower insurance costs.
Mapping At-Risk Communities
FEMA will need to create and update every five years a map of at-risk communities, including those belonging to Indian Tribes. This map will play a significant role in determining where funding and resources are allocated.
Radio Communications Study
Within two years, a report on the sufficiency of radio communication for wildfire management will be developed, examining gaps and barriers to effective communication among emergency services during wildfire events.
Updates to Existing Programs
The bill also amends existing programs to allow for the hardening of structures against wildfires, enabling more funding for projects that focus on resilience and infrastructure improvements against fire threats.
Relevant Companies
- PLNT (Planet Fitness): May see business implications due to the location of gyms in high-risk areas.
- DHI (D.R. Horton): As a homebuilder, changes in regulations and community planning could affect construction strategies.
- AVY (Avery Dennison): Involvement in utility infrastructure may lead to changes in how they manage products in wildfire-prone areas.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
3 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2025 | Introduced in House |
| Jan. 21, 2025 | Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, 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. |
Corporate Lobbying
0 companies lobbying
None found.
* Note that there can be significant delays in lobbying disclosures, and our data may be incomplete.
