Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025

This Act may be cited as the “Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025”.

In this Act:

(1) Appropriate committees of congress.— The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(B) the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and

(C) any other committee of Congress with the authority to facilitate the development of wildland fire research.

(2) Board.— The term Board means the National Center Coordination Board established by section 3(c)(1).

(3) Career pathway.— The term career pathway has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).

(4) Chief.— The term Chief means the Chief of the Forest Service.

(5) Federal science agency.— The term Federal science agency has the meaning given that term in section 103(f) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6623(f)).

(6) Indian Tribe.— The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

(7) Institution of higher education.— The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).

(8) Land-grant colleges and universities.— The term land-grant colleges and universities has the meaning given that term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).

(9) Minority-serving institution.— The term minority-serving institution means an institution defined in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).

(10) National Laboratory.— The term National Laboratory has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

(11) Regional center.— The term regional center means a regional wildland fire research center established under section 3.

(12) Secretaries.— The term Secretaries means the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior.

(13) Tribal organization.— The term Tribal organization has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

(14) Wildland fire.— The term wildland fire means any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels and includes wildfires originating from an unplanned ignition or prescribed fire.

(15) Wildland fire management agencies.— The term wildland fire management agencies means—

(A) the Forest Service;

(B) the Bureau of Land Management;

(C) the National Park Service;

(D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and

(E) the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

(16) Wildland fire research.— The term wildland fire research means research to better understand—

(A) the causes and consequences of wildland fires, including antecedent and contemporaneous factors that increase the risk of catastrophic events;

(B) the spread and behavior of wildland fires, including fires in the wildland-urban interface;

(C) the efficacy of mitigation strategies for wildland fires;

(D) the impact of wildland fires on public health, safety, and the environment;

(E) the rehabilitation and restoration of affected ecosystems after wildland fires; and

(F) the development of mitigation strategies and techniques to improve the safety of wildland fire managers and firefighters.

(a) In general.— The Secretaries shall establish a competitive process for the selection and establishment of regional wildland fire research centers in accordance with subsection (b).

(b) Selection and establishment of regional centers.—

(1) In general.— The Secretaries shall select not fewer than 8 institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and universities at which to establish, in accordance with the timeline described in paragraph (2), regional centers to coordinate the development of wildland fire research.

(2) Timeline.— In establishing regional centers under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall establish—

(A) as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations, a pilot program under which not fewer than 2 regional centers shall be established; and

(B) not later than 2 years after the date on which the pilot program is established under subparagraph (A), the remaining regional centers.

(3) Criteria for selection.—

(A) In general.— In establishing a regional center at an institution of higher education or land-grant college or university under this section, the Secretaries shall prioritize the selection of institutions, colleges, or universities that meet not fewer than one of the following criteria:

(i) Have existing programs of record in wildland fire research.

(ii) Have existing partnerships with research institutions of the Federal Government and other academic institutions and entities relating to wildland fire research.

(iii) Participate in or lead a program under the Joint Fire Science Program.

(iv) Are a minority-serving institution.

(B) Regions.— The Secretaries shall establish not fewer than 1 regional center in each of the following regions of the United States, as defined by the Secretaries:

(i) Alaska.

(ii) California.

(iii) The Pacific Northwest.

(iv) The Pacific Islands.

(v) The Plains and Northeast.

(vi) The Rockies.

(vii) The Southeast.

(viii) The Southwest.

(4) Purpose.— Each regional center, with respect to the region covered by the regional center, shall—

(A) to the extent practical, coordinate research with other wildland fire research entities, such as other academic institutions, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, the research and development program of the Forest Service, the National Laboratories, the United States Geological Survey, and State and regional research organizations;

(B) improve the understanding of wildland fire through wildland fire research that can be applied by wildland fire management agencies;

(C) develop technologies and other tools to understand, monitor, and predict wildland fire, including—

(i) models to predict fire potential and the spread and behavior of wildland fire and smoke;

(ii) models to predict how vegetation will respond to changes in the environment and wildland fire;

(iii) the integration of technologies to predict the spread and behavior of wildland fire and smoke in as near-real-time as possible; and

(iv) other innovations to be integrated into operational decision support systems relating to wildland fire, such as the Wildland Fire Decision Support System and the Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System;

(D) develop technologies and other tools to safely support land management activities to reduce the severity of wildland fire;

(E) leverage predictive capabilities to reduce the impact of smoke on communities and wildfire incident management teams, including wildland firefighters;

(F) improve the understanding of post-fire risk to the landscape, including flash flooding potential and watershed impacts;

(G) test and operate models to support land management decision-making, including through—

(i) operating models to support management of wildland fire and vegetation;

(ii) the demonstration of integration technologies to support management of wildland fire in as near-real-time as possible; and

(iii) the incorporation of decision science and social science that examines the perception and adoption of information related to wildland fire risk;

(H) develop a career pathway training program with respect to carrying out wildland fire research;

(I) develop data management protocols to allow for full and open exchange of data pursuant to the principles of findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (commonly referred to as the “FAIR principles”) and archive and access that data;

(J) develop training programs for prescribed fire implementation; and

(K) make its work and data fully and openly available.

(c) National Center Coordination Board.—

(1) Establishment.— There is established a coordination board, to be known as the “National Center Coordination Board”.

(2) Composition.—

(A) Members.—

(i) In general.— The Board shall be composed of one member representing each regional center.

(ii) Appointment.— Each member under clause (i) shall be selected by the relevant regional center.

(B) Chair.— The Administrator and the Chief shall serve as the Co-Chairs of the Board.

(3) Duties.— The Board shall—

(A) establish wildland fire science, data management, and sharing protocols, and technological research priorities in cooperation with each regional center and informed by the operational needs of wildland fire management agencies;

(B) coordinate data collection efforts supporting the efforts of each regional center, including—

(i) building data layers across each region described in subsection (b)(2)(B); and

(ii) providing updates on the development of wildland fire research models;

(C) ensure the coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the regional centers and the activities of institutions of higher education, land-grant colleges and universities, Federal science agencies, and State research organizations with respect to wildland fire research, including—

(i) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(ii) the National Laboratories;

(iii) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

(iv) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(v) the United States Fire Administration;

(vi) the United States Geological Survey; and

(vii) any other relevant entity with specialized expertise in wildland fire research; and

(D) support end-to-end applications that assist wildland fire management agencies in adopting technologies and incorporating research findings produced by the regional centers.

(4) Meetings.—

(A) Board meetings.— The Board shall meet quarterly.

(B) Public meetings.—

(i) In general.— The Board shall hold public meetings with affected stakeholders to solicit information from the general public regarding the development and implications of wildland fire research.

(ii) Frequency.— Not less frequently than annually, the Board shall hold at least one public meeting in each State covered by a region described in subsection (b)(2)(B).

(5) Term.— A member of the Board shall be appointed for a term of 4 years, except that of the members first appointed, the Secretaries shall ensure that approximately—

(A) 1/3 of members are appointed for a term of 4 years;

(B) 1/3 of members are appointed for a term of 3 years; and

(C) 1/3 of members are appointed for a term of 2 years.

(6) Vacancies.—

(A) In general.— A vacancy on the Board—

(i) shall not affect the powers of the Board; and

(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made by not later than 180 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.

(B) Filling unexpired term.— An individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced.

(7) Recommendations.— Not less frequently than annually, the Board shall submit to the Secretaries recommendations to improve wildland fire research to be included in the report described in subsection (e).

(d) Advisory boards.—

(1) In general.— In accordance with chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the “Federal Advisory Committee Act”), the Secretaries shall establish at each regional center an advisory board, to be known as the “Regional Advisory Board”, to carry out the duties described in paragraph (4).

(2) Composition.—

(A) In general.— Each Regional Advisory Board shall consist of members, who shall be from, or have responsibility covering, the region covered by the relevant regional center, including at minimum—

(i) 1 regional representative from each wildland fire management agency, appointed by that agency;

(ii) 1 representative a State government agency from each State located in that region with expertise in forestry and wildland fire mitigation and management, appointed by the Governor of that State;

(iii) 1 representative from an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization from that region with expertise in forestry and wildland fire mitigation and management on Tribal or Federal land, appointed by the Secretaries; and

(iv) additional representatives elected under subparagraph (B)(ii).

(B) Elected membership.—

(i) Subcommittee.— Each Regional Advisory Board shall solicit and approve, on at least an annual basis, nominations for individuals with operational expertise in wildland fire mitigation and management to serve as a representative on a subcommittee to the Regional Advisory Board for the purposes of clause (ii), composed of not more than 15 individuals, including representatives from, as applicable—

(I) institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and universities;

(II) nongovernmental organizations;

(III) private industry;

(IV) the wildland firefighter community, including organizations that represent the interests of wildland firefighters; and

(V) Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes established under section 5(a) of the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6704(a)).

(ii) Election.— The subcommittee described in clause (i) for a Regional Advisory Board may elect a member or members of the subcommittee to serve as a member of the Regional Advisory Board under subparagraph (A)(iv) for a 2-year term.

(3) Compensation.— Each member of a Regional Advisory Board shall serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.

(4) Duties.— Each Regional Advisory Board shall—

(A) ensure and support the coordination of wildland fire research between the relevant regional center and Federal and State land management agencies in that region;

(B) communicate the operational needs of Federal and State land management agencies and wildland fire management agencies in that region to the relevant regional center and to the Board;

(C) advise, in coordination with the relevant regional center, on research goals and objectives; and

(D) assist the relevant regional center with the dissemination of research outputs and data to Federal and State land management agencies and wildland fire management agencies in that region.

(5) Meetings.— Each Regional Advisory Board shall meet quarterly.

(6) Term.— Unless specified otherwise, a member of a Regional Advisory Board shall serve for a term of 4 years.

(7) Vacancies.—

(A) In general.— A vacancy on a Regional Advisory Board—

(i) shall not affect the powers of the Regional Advisory Board; and

(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made by not later than 180 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.

(B) Filling unexpired term.— An individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced.

(e) Report on wildland fire research.— Not later than each of 2 years and 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with the Board, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing—

(1) the progress each regional center has made in the development of wildland fire research; and

(2) recommendations to improve wildland fire research.

(f) Consultation.— In carrying out the requirements of this section, the Secretaries shall consult with—

(1) Federal science agencies; and

(2) the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

(g) Authorization of appropriations.—

(1) In general.—

(A) Regional centers.— For establishing and administering the regional centers established under subsection (a), there is authorized to be appropriated—

(i) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

(ii) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;

(iii) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;

(iv) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and

(v) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.

(B) Board.— For the Board established under subsection (c), there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

(2) Eligible use of funds.— A regional center may use amounts appropriated pursuant to an authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1)(A) for construction or the acquisition of equipment necessary to carry out the requirements of this Act.

(3) Flexibility.—

(A) In general.— Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretaries shall adjust appropriations under paragraph (1) between the regional centers established under subsection (a) as needed to account for differences in administrative costs and research challenges specific to a particular region.

(B) Notice.— Before adjusting appropriations under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the Administrator shall—

(i) include that adjustment in the budget justification materials submitted by the Administrator and the Chief in support of the budget of the President (as submitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code) for that fiscal year; and

(ii) provide notice of that adjustment to the appropriate committees of Congress.

(4) Transfer of funds.— A Federal science agency may transfer, as necessary, additional appropriated amounts to a regional center for the purpose of carrying out wildland fire research described in subsection (b)(3)(B).