Wildfire Emergency Act of 2023

The Wildfire Emergency Act of 2023 creates a pilot program allowing the Forest Service to enter into "conservation finance agreements" with private entities to fund landscape-scale forest restoration projects on National Forest System land (100,000+ acres), with a $250 million funding cap over 10 years and requiring 40% non-Federal cost share. It establishes a $100 million Critical Infrastructure and Microgrid Program to improve energy resilience for hospitals, fire stations, and other critical facilities through renewable energy and microgrids, and amends weatherization programs to require fire-resistant building materials. The bill also creates Western Prescribed Fire Centers for training, an Innovative Forest Workforce Development Program, and a $50 million National Community Capacity Grant Program targeting disadvantaged communities for land stewardship activities on National Forest System land. These provisions aim to increase forest restoration pace, improve community wildfire resilience, and develop workforce capacity through public-private partnerships and community-focused initiatives.