If you work on forestry issues, there are a lot of moving policy pieces right now. Between appropriations, the Farm Bill, and ongoing USDA regulations, it’s easy to miss some of the forestry policies that could have legs this Congress or next. Below are the five forestry policies you should keep an eye on this year.

(1) Fix Our Forests Act is still in play. The Senate sponsors (Senators Padilla (D-CA), Sheehy (R-MT), Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Curtis (R-UT)) pushed to include FOFA in the Senate NDAA. While it wasn’t included in the manager’s amendment, we shouldn’t write off the process or a floor vote. 

(2) The Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act was updated and reintroduced in the Senate last week. This bill would create a dedicated path for prescribed fire and cultural burning under the Clean Air Act and simplify the demonstration process for states. A similar bill, called the FIRE Act, passed out of the House earlier this year, and the House Energy & Commerce Committee is positioning a beneficial fire solution as part of permitting reform.

(3) Certain Members of Congress and administration offices continue to push for fire unification efforts. The President’s Budget recommended consolidating the U.S. Forest Service within the new Wildland Fire Service. Senator Lee continues to push for these efforts to be tied to FOFA. DOI has commissioned a feasibility study, which we expect to see early in 2027. Expect hearings and renewed conversations once that study is released. 

(4) U.S. Forest Service reorganization efforts remain in limbo. Despite USDA announcing the reorganization earlier this year, USFS assignments remain in flux. As agency officials decide whether to move or leave, stakeholders are maneuvering an ever-changing agency. 

(5) Looking ahead, certain congressional offices and stakeholders are beginning to think through a fire-funding fix. Congress appropriated wildfire suppression funding exempt from discretionary spending limits to address high and uncertain wildfire costs. This fix expires in 2027 and must be renewed. Congressman Simpson (R-ID) expressed interest in finding a fix by the end of this Congress during appropriations markups. While that timeline seems unlikely, it has motivated stakeholders to begin putting together proposals.