House and Senate move to tackle wildfire risk through forest conservation

Bipartisan bill tackling wildfire risk introduced in US Senate

US Senators Alex Padilla and Tim Sheehy announced the Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act on Wednesday 24 September 2025 to expand conservation tools and reduce wildfire risk, Padilla’s Office said.

The bill would allow states to designate accredited nonprofit land trusts to hold and manage conservation easements purchased with funding from the US Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program.

Representatives John Garamendi and Ken Calvert are leading companion legislation in the House, according to Padilla’s Office.

How the Forest Legacy change works

Padilla’s Office said the measure would give private landowners who do not wish to sell an easement to government entities the option to work with accredited land trusts.

It added that the change is intended to reduce administrative burden for states, speed conservation transactions and expand the Forest Legacy Program’s reach.

Padilla’s Office stated that forest management and conservation reduce hazardous fuels, support healthier forests and enable effective fire mitigation practices.

Statements from Senate and House sponsors

Alex Padilla, US Senator for California, said: “Californians know that the status quo isn’t working when it comes to wildfire and forest management.

“It also means working across the aisle to build practical solutions to strengthen our forest resiliency.

“Our bipartisan bill would improve the conservation of private forests to mitigate wildfire risk while protecting important forest resources and habitat and expanding access to outdoor recreation.”

Tim Sheehy, US Senator for Montana, said: “Restoring responsible, commonsense land management is key to protecting property, homes, and communities across the country against the threat of catastrophic wildfire.

“I’m proud to be part of this bipartisan effort to streamline coordination between federal, state, and local governments and provide landowners the support they need to ensure proper forest management and reduce wildfire risk across the country.”

John Garamendi, US Representative for California’s 8th District, said: “As the former Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, I know that our national conservation goals cannot be achieved through public land ownership alone.

“Federal and state governments can, and must, do a better job of working with private landowners who want to conserve their land, as my family did for our cattle ranch in 1998.

“I’m honored to join Senator Padilla in introducing a bill that would unlock millions in federal funding to help states conserve working forestlands, create good-paying jobs, and support sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk.”

Ken Calvert, US Representative for California’s 41st District, said: “The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act will provide new tools to help achieve our conservation, forest management, and economic goals.

“This bipartisan bill is an important step in strengthening partnerships between private landowners and public stakeholders interested in conserving forestlands.”

Programme scale and endorsements

Padilla’s Office said the Forest Legacy Program has conserved more than 3 million acres of forest land since 1990 and operates in 53 states and territories.

The bill has endorsements from organisations including Partnership of Rangeland Trusts, American Farmland Trust, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Pacific Forest Trust, California Rangeland Trust and others, Padilla’s Office said.

Joe Tyler, Director and Fire Chief at CalFire, said: “The Forest Legacy Program remains the largest program for federal funding to states for private forest conservation, but only government entities can hold the conservation easements acquired through the Program.

“This legislation would grant states the flexibility to have land trusts hold these easements, thereby increasing the potential for high priority lands to be conserved through this Program, saving the state money, and increasing the impact of the Program at no additional administrative cost.”

Laurie Wayburn, President at Pacific Forest Trust, said: “We applaud Senators Padilla and Sheehy for introducing this bill.

“This bi-partisan legislation is a commonsense, no-cost enhancement to the Forest Legacy Program — the largest program for federal funding to states for private forest conservation.

“It will make it easier for private landowners and states to fulfill their goals of voluntarily conserving well-managed working forestlands for all their public benefits while maintaining private ownership.

“The option provided in this bill will help many states leverage private-public partnerships to get better outcomes while saving money and resources.

“This bill would unlock and leverage millions in federal funding to help states conserve priority working forestlands, create good-paying jobs, and support sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk.”

Related wildfire and emergency measures from Padilla

Padilla’s Office said the Senator has introduced more than a dozen wildfire measures, including the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act.

It added that Padilla and Senator Thom Tillis introduced the FEMA Independence Act to restore FEMA as an independent cabinet-level agency.

Padilla’s Office stated that the Fix Our Forests Act aims to combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

This legislation is directly relevant to fire chiefs, emergency and disaster response managers and government departments engaged in wildfire mitigation.

Allowing accredited land trusts to hold conservation easements could shorten timelines for fuel reduction and restoration projects on private forestlands.

Padilla’s Office stated that the approach is intended to save states money and time, which can align conservation transactions with mitigation windows before peak fire seasons.

Endorsements from CalFire and Pacific Forest Trust indicate operational support for using conservation easements to maintain working forests that provide public benefits, including reduced hazardous fuels.

Professionals planning risk reduction across mixed ownership landscapes can track this bill because it changes which entities may manage easements funded through the Forest Legacy Program.

Bipartisan US bill aims to conserve forests and reduce wildfire risk: Summary

US Senators Alex Padilla and Tim Sheehy announced the Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act on Wednesday 24 September 2025 to address wildfire risk through expanded conservation tools, Padilla’s Office said.

The bill would allow states to designate accredited nonprofit land trusts to hold conservation easements purchased with funding from the US Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program.

Representatives John Garamendi and Ken Calvert are leading companion legislation in the House, and both outlined expected benefits for working forest conservation and wildfire mitigation.

Padilla’s Office said the Forest Legacy Program has conserved more than 3 million acres since 1990 and operates in 53 states and territories across the country.

The legislation has endorsements from CalFire and a range of conservation and land trust organisations named by Padilla’s Office.

This article contains information from the following source[s]: The Office of U.S. Senator for California Alex Padilla