What This Bill Does
The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act would direct the Comptroller General to study federal programs, rules, and authorities that either help or hinder wildfire mitigation across federal and non-federal land. It focuses on how agencies and governments can work across property lines, including federal land managers, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration, states, local governments, and Tribal governments. The bill does not create a new grant program or spend a specific dollar amount; instead, it requires a report to Congress within 2 years with findings and recommendations.
- Requires the Comptroller General to study wildfire mitigation across federal and non-federal land boundaries.
- Covers federal programs, rules, and authorities that enable or inhibit cross-boundary mitigation.
- Directs review of FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration, NRCS, and federal land management agencies.
- Requires a report to Congress within 2 years of enactment.
- Calls for recommendations to simplify cross-boundary wildfire mitigation between federal, state, local, and Tribal governments.
Who This Bill Affects
For the general public, this bill would not directly change taxes, benefits, or eligibility rules. Its concrete effect is to require a federal study within 2 years on how to make wildfire mitigation easier across federal and non-federal land, which could eventually improve coordination and funding access for people living in fire-prone areas, especially near forests and other mixed-ownership landscapes. Because it is a study bill, the immediate impact is limited, but the potential downstream benefit is better wildfire prevention policy.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisCBO Cost Estimate
March 19, 2026CBO’s March 19, 2026 estimate for S. 2033, the Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act, was issued for a bill ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on December 17, 2025. Because the full CBO report text was not provided, detailed budget effects should be read in the linked CBO report.
Full CBO report →Who Supports & Opposes This
- Homeowners and communities in wildfire-prone areas They may support the bill because wildfire risk often spans multiple parcels and jurisdictions, making it hard to coordinate fuel reduction, forest treatment, and other mitigation work. A federal study could identify the rules that slow projects and point Congress toward fixes that help protect homes and infrastructure.
- State, local, and Tribal governments These governments often have to work with federal agencies and neighboring landowners to reduce wildfire risk, but funding and authority can be fragmented. The bill could surface ways to simplify coordination and improve access to mitigation funding across ownership boundaries.
- Federal land managers and fire agencies Agencies such as federal land managers, FEMA, and the U.S. Fire Administration may welcome a review of overlapping or restrictive rules. A clearer framework could make it easier to plan projects that reduce fire danger on both public and adjacent non-federal lands.
- Taxpayers concerned about federal administrative spending Because the bill creates a study and report requirement, some may view it as adding federal administrative work without immediate on-the-ground results. They may prefer direct mitigation funding or operational changes instead of another review process.
- Property-rights advocates wary of federal coordination efforts Some landowners may be cautious about studies that examine cross-boundary mitigation because they can lead to new federal recommendations affecting private land management. They may worry about future pressure for broader federal involvement in land-use decisions.
- Budget hawks focused on duplication Opponents may argue that existing wildfire and land-management programs are already numerous, and another study could duplicate prior reviews. They may question whether Congress needs more analysis rather than targeted reforms.
Key Implications
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““conduct a study on the existing Federal programs, rules, and authorities””
This means the bill is diagnostic rather than operational. It does not itself change wildfire policy; it asks for a formal review of what is helping or blocking mitigation now.
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““across land ownership boundaries on Federal and non-Federal land””
The focus is on projects that have to cross jurisdictional lines, such as work that involves both public lands and nearby private or state lands. That is important because wildfire risk often spreads across those boundaries.
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““increased capacity or access to funding to mitigate wildfires””
The study must examine whether changes could make it easier for agencies and governments to get money for mitigation. If barriers are found, Congress could later use the report to redesign funding rules.
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““Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment””
The report deadline is two years after enactment, so any recommendations would arrive on a delayed timeline. Communities would not see immediate policy changes from this bill alone.
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““recommendations to simplify cross-boundary wildfire mitigation””
Congress is explicitly asking for practical simplification ideas, not just background research. That could influence future legislation affecting federal, state, local, and Tribal wildfire coordination.
Latest Status
June 11, 2026
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2747-2748; text: CR S2748)
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