HR 3922119th CongressIn Committee

Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act

Introduced: Jun 11, 2025

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act would direct the Comptroller General (the head of the Government Accountability Office) to perform a comprehensive study on how wildfire mitigation efforts traverse land ownership boundaries between Federal and non-Federal lands. The study would assess existing federal programs, rules, and authorities that enable or inhibit cross-boundary mitigation, and examine whether changes to those programs could increase the funding capacity or access for Federal land management agencies, USDA NRCS, DHS (FEMA and USFA), states, local governments, and Tribal governments. It would also consider activities under subsection (e) of section 103 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, including how to improve effectiveness and whether that subsection has increased access to funding. A report with study results and recommendations to simplify cross-boundary wildfire mitigation would be due within two years of enactment. In short, the bill seeks a federally led review of barriers and opportunities for coordinating wildfire mitigation across ownership boundaries, with the goal of identifying policy or funding changes that could streamline cross-boundary efforts.

Key Points

1Requires GAO/comptroller general to study existing federal programs, rules, and authorities that enable or inhibit cross-boundary wildfire mitigation on Federal and non-Federal land.
2Evaluates whether changes to those programs or authorities could expand funding capacity or access for federal land management agencies, USDA NRCS, DHS (FEMA and USFA), states, local governments, and tribal governments.
3Examines activities under subsection (e) of section 103 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, including how to improve efficacy and whether such provisions have increased access to wildfire funding.
4Mandates a final report to Congress within two years that includes study results and recommendations to simplify cross-boundary wildfire mitigation among federal agencies and state/local/tribal governments.
5The bill is guidance/authorization for a study; it does not itself create funding or require new programs, but the findings could inform future legislation or policy changes.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Federal land management agencies, the USDA National Resources Conservation Service, the Department of Homeland Security (FEMA and U.S. Fire Administration), States, local governments, and Tribal governments involved in wildfire mitigation and funding decisions.Secondary group/area affected: Communities and landowners located on or near land boundaries where wildfire mitigation responsibilities cross between federal and non-federal lands; wildfire risk management professionals and intergovernmental coordination bodies.Additional impacts: Potential policy or funding reform recommendations that could streamline cross-boundary mitigation, improve interagency cooperation, and expand access to funding for wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts. No immediate funding is authorized by this bill; any changes would depend on future legislation based on the GAO’s findings.

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