Environment (Forestry)

in committee · United States · House Feb 20, 2026

HR 7603: O&C Renewal Act of 2026

This bill reaffirms permanent timber production as the primary purpose of federal O&C (Oregon & California) lands, requiring revenue generation to support county government services in Oregon. It mandates the federal government meet or exceed Oregon's fire safety standards for these lands, enter agreements with Oregon and forest associations for fire protection, and compensate for services provided. The bill also clarifies that "timberlands" include parcels capable of producing at least 300,000 board feet of timber per 40-acre section. Within two years of enactment, the Secretary of the Interior must revise resource management plans to align with these changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates federal revenue generation to support Oregon county government services, directly funding local budgets through timberland management.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrioritizes timber production as primary purpose of federal lands, with no environmental conservation provisions; mandates revenue generation for timber industry over ecosystem protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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passed · United States · House Jan 24, 2025

HR 375: Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025

This bill continues federal efforts to combat Rapid Ohia Death, a fungal disease threatening Hawaii's native ohia trees (Metrosideros polymorpha). It mandates ongoing research on disease transmission, management of invasive animals (like goats) that spread the disease, and funding for forest restoration through collaboration between federal agencies (Interior, Agriculture), Hawaii state, and local stakeholders. The key provisions require the U.S. Geological Survey and Forest Service to sustain research, partner on land management, and provide financial assistance to prevent disease spread and restore native forests. The bill directly affects Hawaii's ecosystems, particularly the culturally significant ohia tree species and the state's native forest habitats.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates research, invasive species management, and funding to protect ohia trees from fungal disease, directly conserving native forest ecosystems and natural resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 6802: CLEAR Act of 2025

HR 6802, the CLEAR Act of 2025, blocks the Forest Service from enforcing a specific rule (89 Fed. Reg. 92808, November 25, 2024) related to law enforcement and criminal prohibitions. The bill directly prevents the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service from implementing or administering this regulation. It does not create new policy but halts enforcement of an existing rule, affecting how the Forest Service operates under that specific provision. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on stopping the rule’s application without altering broader law enforcement authority.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill blocks enforcement of Forest Service rule (89 Fed. Reg. 92808) on law enforcement/criminal prohibitions, weakening environmental protections by removing regulatory enforcement for natural resource conservation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 6, 2025

S 476: White Oak Resiliency Act of 2025

This bill establishes the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition to coordinate federal, state, and private efforts for restoring white oak forests across the U.S. It directs the Agriculture and Interior Departments to launch 5 pilot projects on public lands (including national forests and wildlife refuges) to improve white oak regeneration and health, and creates a voluntary grant program to help private landowners restore white oak forests through partnerships with organizations like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The bill also requires developing a national strategy to address white oak seedling shortages in nurseries and funds research at land-grant universities on white oak genetics, disease resistance, and reforestation techniques. These provisions directly affect federal agencies, land-grant universities, forest landowners, and conservation groups working on white oak ecosystem restoration.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates federal initiative to restore white oak forests via pilot projects and grants, directly advancing forest conservation and natural resource protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Jun 11, 2025

HR 3930: Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2025

This bill codifies existing protections for designated roadless areas within the National Forest System by prohibiting new road construction, road reconstruction, and logging in these areas. It directly affects National Forest lands already identified as "inventoried roadless areas" under the current Roadless Rule, which covers roughly 58 million acres. The key mechanism requires the Secretary of Agriculture to enforce these prohibitions, maintaining current protections without expanding restrictions to other lands or altering existing multiple-use management. The bill does not create new protected areas but legally solidifies the existing regulatory framework to preserve ecological and recreational values.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill restricts road construction and logging in National Forest areas, limiting access for energy exploration and infrastructure development.75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMaintains 58M acres of roadless areas by prohibiting logging/roads, protecting forests per current rule.95% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill prohibits new road construction in national forest roadless areas, restricting transportation infrastructure development in designated zones.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands Roads & Highways

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 25, 2025

S 1114: Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025

This bill establishes a new federal program to address urgent water resource risks after natural disasters on National Forest System land. It allows state/local governments, tribes, or water districts (sponsors) to request funding for immediate actions like soil erosion control and flood mitigation to protect downstream communities and water systems. Key provisions include waived matching requirements, expedited project timelines (completion within 2 years), and limited liability for sponsors - though sponsors remain liable for reckless conduct. The program focuses on emergency response, not long-term planning, and streamlines federal coordination for faster action.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds soil erosion control and flood mitigation to protect water systems after disasters, directly advancing environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 6, 2025

S 453: Wildfire Intelligence Collaboration and Coordination Act of 2025

This bill establishes the Wildfire Intelligence Center within the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior to centralize wildfire data and coordination. The Center will provide real-time risk assessments, fire behavior modeling, and tools for evacuation planning to help communities, firefighters, and emergency responders. It aims to improve data sharing across federal, state, tribal, and local agencies managing wildfire response by creating standardized tools and a unified information platform. The Center will focus on pre-fire planning, active response, and post-fire recovery using aggregated scientific data and predictive services.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates Wildfire Intelligence Center to improve wildfire response coordination, data sharing, and risk assessments, directly protecting natural resources and communities from environmental damage caused by wildfires.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters

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passed · United States · House Apr 27, 2026

HR 6387: FIRE Act

The FIRE Act amends the Clean Air Act to clarify when air quality monitoring data affected by wildfires or prescribed fire (a state-approved wildfire risk mitigation practice) can be excluded from compliance calculations with air quality standards. It expands the definition of "exceptional events" to include natural wildfires and human activities mimicking natural events (like prescribed burns), while excluding common weather patterns and pollution from noncompliance. The bill requires the EPA to conduct regional analysis for multistate wildfire events and create a public website tracking state petitions for data exclusion. This change primarily affects how states and the EPA handle air quality data during wildfire seasons and when using prescribed fire as a management tool.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill excludes wildfire/prescribed burn pollution from Clean Air Act compliance calculations, weakening enforcement of air quality standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Forestry

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in committee · United States · House Jun 26, 2025

HR 4212: SHADE Act

HR 4212, the SHADE Act, establishes a federal grant program to plant trees in historically underserved urban areas. It directly affects cities and communities in "redlined areas" (low-income neighborhoods historically denied loans) or "intra-urban heat islands" (city zones with high temperatures and low tree cover). The bill authorizes $50 million annually (2026-2036) for grants to states, local governments, tribes, or qualifying nonprofits to fund tree planting, maintenance for 5 years, and community engagement plans. Grants prioritize projects that avoid displacing residents and require planting non-invasive tree species suited to the local environment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds urban tree planting to combat heat islands and improve air quality in underserved areas, directly advancing environmental protection through conservation and pollution control.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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in committee · United States · House Mar 28, 2025

HR 1994: Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2025

The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2025 establishes rules for solar and wind energy projects on federal public lands and National Forest System lands. It requires project owners to pay current rents and fees (with a limited exception for projects that applied for permits by December 2016) and directs 25% of revenue from these projects to the state, 25% to the county (based on land area), 25% to speed up renewable energy permit processing, and 25% to a new conservation fund. The fund finances habitat restoration, wildlife corridor protection, wetland conservation, and improved public access to federal lands affected by renewable energy development. This bill directly affects renewable energy developers, states, counties, and federal agencies managing public lands.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates 25% revenue to state/county budgets, permit processing, and conservation fund, directly funding fiscal management and public services through revenue distribution.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEnables solar/wind projects on federal lands with revenue sharing to fund renewables, faster permitting, and conservation, directly advancing renewable energy development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes renewable energy development on public lands and allocates 25% of revenue to conservation fund, directly advancing environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar Wind Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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