S. 3152: Local Employment Access for our Forests Act of 2025

The Local Employment Access for our Forests Act of 2025 (LEAF Act) proposes changes to the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, specifically regarding the awarding of contracts for certain hazardous fuel reduction projects on Federal lands. The bill aims to prioritize local contractors when these contracts are awarded. Here are the main features of the bill:

Contract Preference for Local Contractors

• The Secretary of Agriculture will be required to give preference to local contractors when awarding contracts for authorized projects intended to reduce hazardous fuels on Federal land. This preference is to be applied as much as practicable.

Definitions

• Appropriate local contractor: This is defined as an entity with its principal place of business in the state where the project is located, or within a 60-mile radius, provided that at least 26 percent of the contractor's workforce resides in that area.
• Authorized projects: These include various vegetation management activities, such as mechanical thinning, prescribed burning, and removing hazardous trees, which are conducted to maintain the health of Federal lands and reduce wildfire risks.

Reporting Requirements

• The Secretary must submit a report to Congress within two years of the bill's enactment and annually thereafter. This report should detail:
• The number of contracts awarded to local contractors and their total dollar value.
• The economic impact of this contract preference on local employment and contractor capacity.
• Reasons for awarding contracts to contractors that are not classified as appropriate local contractors.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• The Secretary will establish a monitoring process to ensure compliance with the new contract preference rules and to support the reporting requirements laid out in the bill.
• This process may involve cooperation with governmental agencies, Tribal governments, and other interested groups.

Clerical Amendments

• Administrative updates will be made to the table of contents of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act to reflect the addition of the new section on contract preferences.

Conclusion

• The bill's main aim is to support local economies by prioritizing local contractors for federal contracts related to forest management and hazardous fuel reduction, which is intended to enhance both local employment and forest health.

Relevant Companies

None found.