Environment (Forestry)

S 85 authorizes $5 million annually from 2026 to 2036 to address Rapid Ohia Death, a fungus killing over 1 million native ohia trees in Hawaii. The bill directs federal agencies (Interior and Agriculture Departments) to collaborate with Hawaii state officials on research, preventing the fungus's spread, managing animals that spread it, and propagating resistant trees for forest restoration. It specifically funds ongoing efforts like studying how the fungus spreads, partnering with local groups on land management, and supporting the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry for research. This funding directly supports Hawaii's native ecosystems and communities reliant on them.

HR 178 requires the U.S. Forest Service (under the Secretary of Agriculture) to put out wildfires on specific National Forest lands within 24 hours of detection. It directly affects National Forest System lands in areas experiencing severe drought (D2-D4 ratings), high fire risk (National Wildland Fire Preparedness Level 5), or in the top 10% of wildfire exposure risk. Key provisions mandate using all available resources for rapid suppression, prohibiting interference with state/local firefighting efforts, and strictly limiting the use of planned controlled burns or backfires (only allowed under specific safety orders or to protect personnel). The bill does not create new funding but sets operational requirements for wildfire response on defined high-risk lands.

The TORCH Act (HR 168) streamlines wildfire risk reduction on National Forest System lands by creating new pathways for hazard tree removal, timber sales for extreme risks, and grazing management. It establishes a categorical exclusion for high priority hazard tree activities (limited to 3,000 acres), allows timber sales without appraisal for extreme risks, and expands opportunities for using livestock grazing to reduce fire fuels. The bill also modifies good neighbor agreements to better support state and local wildfire mitigation efforts and streamlines vegetation management for electric utility lines near power lines. These changes primarily affect the U.S. Forest Service, electric utility companies, and state/local governments managing wildfire risk on federal lands.

Save Our Sequoias Act This bill provides for the conservation of giant sequoia trees ( Sequoiadendron giganteum ) in California. Specifically, it provides statutory authority for the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition and outlines the coalition's duties. The coalition must submit a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment and annually update it. The information from the assessment must be made available so the information can be integrated into certain other plans. The coalition must also create and maintain a website that contains the assessment, educational materials, searchable information about individual giant sequoia groves, and a searchable database to track the status and costs of reforestation and rehabilitation activities. In addition, the bill declares an emergency on certain public lands and allows officials to carry out protection plans during the emergency to respond to the threat of wildfires, insects, and drought. The emergency expires after seven years. The Department of the Interior must develop and implement a Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy. Finally, the bill establishes a variety of programs and funds to support the conservation of giant sequoias.

This bill creates a federal grant program to fund state wildfire agencies' use of advanced satellite technology for wildfire monitoring. It authorizes $20 million annually (2026-2028) for up to three competitive grants to eligible entities like state foresters or emergency managers. Grantees must use funds to purchase high-resolution satellite imaging capabilities and analyze data to monitor active fires, assess burn severity, guide prescribed burns, and support post-fire recovery. The program requires grantees to report on applications, outcomes, and recommendations for long-term implementation. The bill directly affects state wildfire management agencies through new funding for specific satellite-based monitoring tools.

This bill amends the tax code to create a special rule for deducting losses of uncut timber (timber not yet cut for sale) from disasters like fires, storms, pests, or drought. It requires taxpayers to base deductions on the timber's pre-loss appraised value minus salvage value, using a certified appraiser's assessment within one year. Crucially, taxpayers must reforest the affected area with hardwoods or softwoods within five years to keep the tax benefit; failure to reforest results in recapturing the deduction. The rule applies only to timber held for sale in an active business, excluding passive activities. This changes how businesses can claim tax deductions after timber losses while linking the benefit to reforestation efforts.

The Shawnee TRAILS Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture to designate and maintain at least 20% of trails in Shawnee National Forest for recreational use by e-bikes and off-road vehicles (including ATVs and ORVs). It mandates that these designated trails be monitored to balance recreation access with natural resource protection, while ensuring at least one trail remains open year-round for such use. The bill also explicitly permits covered vehicles on paved roads within the forest. This policy directly affects recreational users of e-bikes and off-road vehicles in Shawnee National Forest, altering how trails are managed for their access.

This bill adds a new tax credit for homeowners who install qualifying U.S.-grown hardwood products in their primary residence. It expands the existing energy efficient home improvement credit to cover "natural carbon sink expenditures," defined as flooring, paneling, cabinetry, or windows made from deciduous trees grown and processed in the U.S. The credit applies to products installed in a dwelling owned and used as the taxpayer’s principal residence, with the installation expected to last at least five years. The bill also extends the credit’s expiration date from 2032 to 2035.

The M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act designates specific segments of rivers in New Mexico - including the Gila River system, Apache Creek, and Black Canyon Creek - as "wild" or "recreational" rivers under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers system. It withdraws federal lands within these designated segments from mining, grazing, and other development activities while preserving existing rights like water rights, grazing permits, and mining operations outside the designated areas. The bill also modifies boundaries of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and Gila National Forest by transferring approximately 440 acres from the Forest Service to the National Park Service. Management plans must be created for these rivers, requiring consultation with tribal governments and local communities. The bill ensures existing water infrastructure, native fish habitat projects, and treaty rights for Native American tribes are protected.

HR 5393, the Southern Arizona Protection Act, nullifies a 2000 presidential proclamation that established the Ironwood Forest National Monument in Arizona. It prohibits the future creation or expansion of national monuments within the specific area depicted in the 2000 Ironwood Forest National Monument map, except with explicit approval from Congress. The bill directly affects land management decisions in that Southern Arizona region by restricting the use of the Antiquities Act, which allows presidents to designate national monuments. This changes the process by requiring Congressional action instead of presidential authority for monument designations in the specified area.