Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2024

The Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2024 provides financial assistance to owners of nonindustrial private forest land and timber service businesses affected by pine beetle outbreaks. Landowners can receive cost-share payments covering up to 85% of expenses for outbreak response measures like timber harvesting, debris removal, or prescribed burning, while timber service businesses get payments for up to 50% of their eligible costs (such as labor, equipment use, or materials). The bill also establishes emergency loans covering at least 75% of response costs, which landowners can partially repay using future cost-share payments. To qualify, land must have had tree cover before the outbreak, be in a county designated for drought-related disaster, and have confirmed pine beetle infestations through forest surveys.