Wildfire Recovery Act

This bill would allow the federal government to increase its share of costs for the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program above the current 75% limit. It proposes that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) establish specific financial thresholds and criteria for recommending these cost-share increases to the President. Additionally, the bill would require FEMA to update its policies to permit state, local, and tribal governments to receive reimbursement for pre-positioning firefighting resources within their own jurisdictions.

This bill primarily affects state, local, and Indian tribal governments that respond to wildfires and seek federal assistance through the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is also affected, as it must update its regulations and policies regarding cost-share recommendations and reimbursement eligibility for firefighting assets. Additionally, the legislation impacts state and local agencies that pre-deploy their own firefighting resources within their home states by making those costs eligible for federal reimbursement.

• Adjustment of Federal Cost Share Minimum. Establishes the current 75% federal cost share for the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program as a statutory minimum rather than a fixed amount, allowing for potential increases.
• Criteria for Increased Federal Funding. Directs FEMA to develop regulations and financial thresholds for recommending that the President increase the federal cost share above 75% based on state or local response costs.
• Expansion of Predeployment Reimbursements. Requires updates to FMAG policy to permit state, local, and tribal governments to receive reimbursement for pre-positioning their own firefighting assets within their jurisdictions.

This bill modifies the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program by establishing the current 75% federal cost share as a minimum rather than a fixed rate. It also requires updates to existing FMAG policy to allow state, local, and tribal governments to receive reimbursement for the predeployment of domestic firefighting assets, aligning the program with other FEMA assistance standards.

The bill aims to enhance federal support for wildfire response by providing flexibility to increase the federal cost share for the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program above the current 75% limit. Additionally, it seeks to expand eligibility for the reimbursement of costs associated with the pre-positioning of firefighting assets by state, local, and tribal governments.