Strengthening Wildfire Resiliency Through Satellites Act of 2025 | ChamberLight
Bills · HR 527
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 527Emergency Management
Strengthening Wildfire Resiliency Through Satellites Act of 2025
INTRO JAN 16· LAST ACTION JAN 16
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
3BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
This bill matters because wildfires are an increasing threat across many parts of the United States, causing massive destruction, displacing communities, and impacting air quality far beyond burned areas. If this bill becomes law, states would have access to federal funding and cutting-edge satellite technology to improve their ability to detect, track, and manage these fires more effectively.
Currently, wildfire management often relies on a mix of ground observations, aerial surveillance, and sometimes less frequent or lower-resolution satellite data. By providing grants specifically for the latest-generation, high-resolution satellite imaging and data analysis, the bill aims to give states better tools for real-time information. This could mean earlier detection of new fires, more precise understanding of how existing fires are spreading, and better guidance for first responders and recovery efforts. Without this bill, states would continue to rely on existing resources, which might not include the most advanced satellite capabilities for wildfire monitoring.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extracted
PROVISION 01
Establishes a competitive grant program for states to monitor wildfires using satellite technology.
This creates a new funding source dedicated to advanced wildfire surveillance for state agencies.
PROVISION 02
Requires grant recipients to use the funds to purchase and integrate high-resolution multi- and hyper-spectral imaging capabilities from the latest-generation wildfire monitoring satellites through public-private partnerships.
It ensures that the grant money is used for state-of-the-art technology and fosters collaboration between government and private industry.
PROVISION 03
Mandates that the satellite data be used to detect, assess, respond to, and manage wildfires, focusing on active fire behavior, prescribed fires, and post-fire recovery.
This directs the advanced technology towards specific, critical aspects of wildfire management and mitigation.
PROVISION 04
Authorizes $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to carry out the program.
This provides specific funding to kickstart and support the grant program for its initial years.
This bill matters because wildfires are an increasing threat across many parts of the United States, causing massive destruction, displacing communities, and impacting air quality far beyond burned areas. If this bill becomes law, states would have access to federal funding and cutting-edge satellite technology to improve their ability to detect, track, and manage these fires more effectively.
Currently, wildfire management often relies on a mix of ground observations, aerial surveillance, and sometimes less frequent or lower-resolution satellite data. By providing grants specifically for the latest-generation, high-resolution satellite imaging and data analysis, the bill aims to give states better tools for real-time information. This could mean earlier detection of new fires, more precise understanding of how existing fires are spreading, and better guidance for first responders and recovery efforts. Without this bill, states would continue to rely on existing resources, which might not include the most advanced satellite capabilities for wildfire monitoring.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Establishes a competitive grant program for states to monitor wildfires using satellite technology.
This creates a new funding source dedicated to advanced wildfire surveillance for state agencies.
high
Requires grant recipients to use the funds to purchase and integrate high-resolution multi- and hyper-spectral imaging capabilities from the latest-generation wildfire monitoring satellites through public-private partnerships.
It ensures that the grant money is used for state-of-the-art technology and fosters collaboration between government and private industry.
med
Mandates that the satellite data be used to detect, assess, respond to, and manage wildfires, focusing on active fire behavior, prescribed fires, and post-fire recovery.
This directs the advanced technology towards specific, critical aspects of wildfire management and mitigation.
high
Authorizes $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to carry out the program.
This provides specific funding to kickstart and support the grant program for its initial years.
A program through which a government agency provides funds to organizations or individuals for specific projects or purposes, usually after a competitive application process.
Secretary of the Interior
The head of the U.S. Department of the Interior, a government agency responsible for managing and conserving most federal land and natural resources.
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
A scientific agency of the U.S. government that studies the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it.
Eligible entities
Specific organizations or individuals that meet the criteria to apply for or receive funding, in this case, state foresters, emergency managers, or similar state officials.
Multi- and hyper-spectral imaging
Advanced satellite technology that captures images across many different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, providing much more detailed information about the Earth's surface than standard cameras.
Public-private partnership
A cooperative arrangement between a government agency and a private sector company for the purpose of delivering a project or service to the public.
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
JAN 16, 25
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
JAN 16, 25
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Fires intentionally set under carefully controlled conditions to reduce hazardous fuels, restore ecosystems, and achieve other land management objectives.
