We have received text from H.R. 5823: Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025. This bill was received on 2025-10-24, and currently has 1 cosponsor.
Here is a short summary of the bill:
This bill, titled the Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025 , proposes amendments to the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to enhance the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct emergency watershed protection measures on National Forest System land. Below is a summary of the main components of the bill:
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
The bill establishes an Emergency Forest Watershed Program that allows for the execution of emergency measures to address environmental issues arising from natural disasters or significant natural occurrences.
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Definitions:
- Emergency watershed protection measures: These measures are required to manage runoff, prevent soil erosion, and mitigate floods triggered by natural disasters. They aim to protect natural resources on National Forest land and prevent risks to water resources, life, or property downstream.
- Natural disaster: Refers to events as defined in existing regulations.
- Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of Agriculture, who acts through the Chief of the Forest Service.
- Sponsor: Can include state or local governments, Indian tribes, or other designated water-related agencies.
Authority for Measures
The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to implement emergency watershed protection measures in collaboration with sponsors (such as local governments or tribal authorities) to quickly respond to natural disasters.
Agreements and Payments
- The Secretary can enter into agreements with sponsors to carry out these emergency measures, and sponsors may request payments for these actions.
- After a disaster, the Secretary is required to expedite these agreements. Sponsors must complete the watershed protection measures within two years following the disaster.
- Monitoring and maintenance of these measures can continue for up to three years after the disaster, if necessary.
- Payments to sponsors can occur throughout the project, with the final payment due within 30 days of project completion.
- Matching fund requirements will be waived to ease the process for the sponsors.
Liability and Risk Assumption
The bill addresses liability issues by stating that:
- Sponsors are not required to indemnify the government for liabilities arising from the emergency protection measures.
- Sponsors also will not be held liable for damages unless proven to have acted with willful negligence or reckless behavior.
- Moreover, sponsors that conduct measures prior to entering an official agreement bear the risk of any associated costs or liabilities.
Coordination
The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service will be responsible for coordinating the use of funds from this act with other relevant sections of law.
NEPA Compliance
Any emergency watershed protection measures executed under this bill will be classified as emergency response actions, streamlining compliance with existing regulations.
Relevant Companies
- None found
Representative Joe Neguse Bill Proposals
Here are some bills which have recently been proposed by Representative Joe Neguse:
- H.R.5823: Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025
- H.R.5782: Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
- H.R.5781: MATCH Act of 2025
- H.R.5652: Wildfire Recovery Act
- H.R.5651: Affordability and Fairness for Mountain Communities Act of 2025
- H.R.5481: Wildfire Smoke Relief Act
You can track bills proposed by Representative Joe Neguse on Quiver Quantitative's politician page for Neguse.
Representative Joe Neguse Net Worth
Quiver Quantitative estimates that Representative Joe Neguse is worth $825.0K, as of October 28th, 2025. This is the 349th highest net worth in Congress, per our live estimates.
Neguse has approximately $0 invested in publicly traded assets which Quiver is able to track live.
You can track Representative Joe Neguse's net worth on Quiver Quantitative's politician page for Neguse.
This article is not financial advice. See Quiver Quantitative's disclaimers for more information.
