Fix Our Forests Act Edges Closer to Law

• By: Corey Miller
• October 23, 2025

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry marked up S. 1462, the “Fix Our Forests Act of 2025,” and passed it out of committee by a vote of 18-5.

Earlier this year, companion legislation, H.R. 471, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. If the Senate follows suit, the measure will move to the president’s desk to become law, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the nation’s wildfire resilience and forest management.

The Senate bill was sponsored by Sens. John Curtis (R-Utah) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado). It will improve forest management, reduce wildfire risk and protect critical infrastructure through enhanced federal, state, tribal, and local collaboration. It also seeks to eliminate legal and regulatory obstacles, streamline forest management projects and encourage active management to protect power lines and other critical infrastructure.

The bill also incorporated language from two bipartisan Sen. Hickenlooper bills. Some language aims to boost reforestation initiatives by strengthening the capacity of state, tribal and private nurseries, while other language establishes a new Wildfire Intelligence Center to enhance coordination among agencies and create a unified federal response to wildfires.

Chairman John Boozman (R-Arkansas) expressed optimism about passing this legislation on the floor of the U.S. Senate, calling it a common-sense step to prevent catastrophic wildfires.

In 2021, Congress formed the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission to tackle increasing wildfire threats, bringing together representatives from federal agencies, local governments and the private sector. The Fix Our Forests Act aligns with the commission’s recommendations, focusing on reducing forest fuel loads, hardening infrastructure and promoting fire-resistant building standards, while advancing scientific research to improve wildfire resiliency.

The Big “I,” along with the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and Reinsurance Association of America, sent a letter supporting the passage of this bill, and encouraging final passage by the full chamber.

Earlier this year, the Big “I” highlighted the “Fix our Forests Act” as part of its annual legislative conference and encouraged congressional action.

As any wildfire-related legislation makes its way through Congress, the Big “I” will continue to provide members with updates in the weekly News & Views e-newsletter.

Corey Miller is Big “I” director of federal government affairs.