HR 528 United States House · 119th Congress

Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act

Summary

Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of the Interior to carry out a program for post-disaster reforestation and restoration. Interior must identify covered lands requiring reforestation and restoration following unplanned disturbances that are unlikely to experience natural regeneration without assistance. Covered land means (1) any federal land or interest in land administered by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Forest Service, or the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and (2) any Indian Forest Land or Rangeland. Interior must propose a list that prioritizes projects for reforestation and restoration for each fiscal year. Interior may (1) carry out priority projects through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements; and (2) support any grant contract or cooperative agreement that may be necessary to ensure adequate and appropriate seed and seedling availability to further the objectives of priority projects.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Mar 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 4 edits · Mar 16, 2026

MODERATE

The Engrossed version of HR 528 adds a 7-year sunset provision limiting how long the reforestation program operates, narrows the definition of covered agencies from a broad statutory reference to five specifically named federal agencies, and adds a new explicit definition for Indian Forest Land or Rangeland. These changes make the bill more time-limited and precise about which agencies and lands are in scope.

TIMELINE

A new sunset provision (subsection e) was added, terminating all authority under the section 7 years after enactment. This means the reforestation and restoration program is no longer permanent.

SCOPE

The definition of 'covered agency' was changed from a broad reference to 'each Federal land management agency' as defined in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (plus BIA) to an explicit list of five agencies: National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. This narrows or clarifies which agencies participate.

DEFINITION

A new standalone definition for 'Indian Forest Land or Rangeland' was added, specifying that it must be land held in trust or with a restriction against alienation for an Indian Tribe or member, AND either qualify as Indian forest land under the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act, have a cover of grasses/brush/similar vegetation, or formerly have had restorable forest or vegetative cover.

TECHNICAL

The short title was changed from 'Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025' to 'Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act,' removing the year reference. The definition of 'Secretary' was corrected from 'Secretary of Interior' to 'Secretary of the Interior.'

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 17, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2524)

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2524)

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Sep 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee on Agriculture discharged.

lower

Sep 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-276, Part I.

lower

Jul 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Jul 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee Hearings Held

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors