Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act
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The bill would direct the Government Accountability Office to study federal programs and laws that help or hinder wildfire mitigation efforts that cross boundaries between federal and non-federal land, and to recommend ways to simplify cooperation.
The study would examine whether existing authorities give agencies enough funding or capacity to protect communities from wildfire, feeding recommendations to Congress rather than changing any program itself.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Comptroller General of the United States, who leads the Government Accountability Office, to study existing federal programs, rules, and authorities that enable or inhibit wildfire mitigation work that crosses boundaries between federal and non-federal land. The study would assess whether changes to those programs or authorities could give agencies more funding or capacity to mitigate wildfires and better protect communities and structures. It would also evaluate the effectiveness of several named cross-boundary forestry and wildfire authorities. Within two years of enactment, the Comptroller General would have to report the study's results and recommendations for simplifying cross-boundary wildfire mitigation to four congressional committees. The bill does not itself create, fund, or change any wildfire program; it only requires a study and a report with recommendations for Congress to consider.
Key provisions
- 1Would require the Comptroller General to study federal programs, rules, and authorities that enable or inhibit cross-boundary wildfire mitigation on federal and non-federal land
- 2Would require assessing whether changing identified programs or authorities could increase agency funding, capacity, or community protection from wildfire
- 3Would require evaluating the effectiveness of named cross-boundary forestry authorities, including the Healthy Forests Restoration Act and good neighbor authority
- 4Would require a report within two years to House and Senate committees with study results and recommendations to simplify cross-boundary wildfire mitigation
Who would be affected
Federal land management agencies, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, FEMA, and the U.S. Fire Administration, along with state, local, and tribal governments that participate in cross-boundary wildfire mitigation, would be examined in the study and could see future policy recommendations.
Why it matters
The study could surface obstacles that keep federal and non-federal partners from coordinating wildfire prevention across property lines, informing future legislation. But because the bill only requires research and a report, it would not immediately change funding, authority, or protections for any agency or community.
What would change
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for the Comptroller General to submit the study report to Congress
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 3922 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2026–2031 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
H.R. 3922 would direct the Comptroller General to report to Congress on legal and programmatic barriers to conducting wildfire mitigation across federal and nonfederal land boundaries, and on changes that would improve federal, state, and tribal governments' capacity to mitigate wildfires. CBO estimates implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2026–2031 period, based on the cost of similar reports; any such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds (i.e., Congress would need to provide funding). The bill would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending, revenues, or the deficit over the 2026–2036 scoring window, and CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates.
How implementation would work
The Government Accountability Office would review existing federal programs, rules, and named statutory authorities—such as the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act, good neighbor authority, Tribal Forest Protection Act, and collaborative forest landscape restoration program—to identify barriers to cross-boundary wildfire mitigation. It would then compile findings and recommendations into a report submitted within two years to the House Natural Resources and Agriculture committees and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry committees, which could use the recommendations to draft future legislation.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 435.
Official CRS summary
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This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study wildfire mitigation across land ownership boundaries and make recommendations to simplify cross-boundary wildfire mitigation between federal land management agencies and state, local, and Indian tribal governments.
Legislative subjects
Congressional oversight; Fires; Forests, forestry, trees; Government studies and investigations; Public Lands and Natural Resources
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-673