House Panel Advances Wildfire Bill Meant to Deter ‘Frivolous’ Lawsuits, Start Thinning

Bipartisan Fix Our Forest Act sponsors urge swift adoption of measure designed to be implemented immediately to begin thinning at-risk forests.

In this photo provided by Pam Bonner, smoke rises from fires in Ruidoso, N.M., on June 17, 2024. Thousands of southern New Mexico residents fled the mountainous village as a wind-whipped wildfire tore through homes and other buildings. Pam Bonner via AP

The House Natural Resources Committee has advanced a land management bill that proponents say would expedite environmental reviews, deter “frivolous” lawsuits that delay the thinning of overgrown forests, and use “fireshed mapping” to identify areas most at risk of wildfires.

The committee approved the Fix Our Forests Act, H.R. 8790, co-sponsored by chair Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Scott Peterson (D-Calif.), in a June 27 voice vote. The bill now goes to the House floor.