Bill > HR3889

This bill establishes a comprehensive national framework for expanding and supporting the use of prescribed fire on federal lands, with a focus on ecosystem restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and collaboration with Tribal and local partners. The bill directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to increase prescribed fire activities by 10% annually, establish a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program that can fund up to 20 projects per year (with a maximum of $1 million per project), and develop strategies to support and expand the prescribed fire workforce. Key provisions include creating dedicated prescribed fire task forces, developing liability protections for fire practitioners, establishing training programs, and supporting the inclusion of diverse workforce groups like veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals. The bill also addresses environmental considerations by developing smoke management guidance, supporting air quality agencies, and creating landscape-scale prescribed fire plans. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting cultural burning practices of Indigenous Tribes, provides funding flexibility for prescribed fire activities, and requires annual reporting on implementation and accomplishments. The overall goal is to improve forest and landscape health, reduce wildfire risks, and create a more robust and collaborative approach to prescribed fire management across federal, state, tribal, and local jurisdictions.