To improve the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to carry out forest management activities that reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Mike Kennedy (Republican-UT)February 13, 2026

AI-generated ?

Report an error

Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Federal agencies could speed up efforts to prevent wildfires and clear power lines.

This bill would make it easier for federal agencies to manage forests and clear vegetation around power lines to reduce wildfire risks. It would streamline environmental reviews and increase the size of projects aimed at preventing large fires. This affects communities near federal lands, utility companies, and state and tribal governments involved in forest management.

What Would Change

Today, federal agencies follow specific environmental review processes and project size limits for forest management, timber sales, and utility right-of-way maintenance. After this bill, federal agencies would be able to skip some environmental reviews for certain activities, and the maximum size for wildfire prevention projects would increase from 3,000 acres to 10,000 acres. Additionally, the maximum value for timber sales that can be sold without public advertisement would increase from $10,000 to $50,000.

Key Provisions

Lets federal agencies skip some environmental reviews for power line maintenance and vegetation clearing.
Exempts electric utility line maintenance and vegetation clearing activities from certain requirements of the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
Increases the size of wildfire prevention projects, fuel breaks, and collaborative restoration projects from 3,000 acres to 10,000 acres.
Changes rules so federal agencies would not need to restart certain endangered species consultations for land management plans when new information or species listings occur.
Allows Indian tribes, states, and counties to keep and use money from timber sales under "Good Neighbor" agreements for restoration work.

View on Congress.gov

HR 7578 · 119th Congress · February 13, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10

Lobbying Activity

4 filings mentioned this bill

Top Lobbying Clients

EDISON INTERNATIONAL

2 filings

AMERICAN PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION

2 filings

Top Lobbying Firms

1.EDISON INTERNATIONAL2 filings

2.AMERICAN PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION FKA PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURERS ASSOC. OF AMERICA2 filings

Amounts reflect total quarterly lobbying spend reported to the Senate, not bill-specific spending. Source: Senate LDA filings.