Bill > ACR166

Introduced Session

This resolution urges Congress to pass the "Fix Our Forests Act." On average, 1,500 wildfires damage or destroy 7,000 acres of New Jersey's forests each year. In addition to damaging the State's forests and wildlife habitats, wildfires also threaten homes and businesses and jeopardize the health and wellbeing of people who live or recreate within or near the State's forests. The considerable number of hot, dry, or windy days that New Jersey has been experiencing increases the likelihood of wildfires. As the most densely populated state in the country, New Jersey residents are increasingly at risk of being near a wildfire. The "Fix Our Forests Act," currently pending in the United States Congress would create an interagency Fireshed Center to use data to assess and predict wildfire risk to help inform wildfire reduction activities. A data-driven approach to assessing wildfire risk could help this State make strategic decisions about land management practices and take actions that are most likely to decrease the risk of wildfires. Forest fire management techniques vary broadly and can include using prescribed fires to reduce brush that fuels wildfires, thinning the number of trees through accepted forest management practices, minimizing the spread of diseases and insects, and building resilience in at-risk communities. The "Fix Our Forests Act" would facilitate environmental reviews for accepted forest management practices, limit litigation involving fireshed management projects, promote livestock grazing in forests, require a study on pine beetle infestations, and promote strategies to strengthen the domestic seed supply.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Michael Inganamort (R)*,  Dawn Fantasia (R), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee (on 05/22/2025)

Official Document