Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act

This bill aims to improve forest management and wildfire prevention by giving Native American tribes and local counties the same financial tools currently available to state governments. Under the existing "Good Neighbor Authority" program, the federal government partners with local entities to perform restoration work—such as thinning overgrown forests or improving watersheds—on federal lands.

If passed, this legislation would allow tribes and counties to keep the revenue generated from selling timber during these projects and reinvest those funds into additional conservation and restoration work on both federal and nearby non-federal lands. By removing the requirement that these funds be returned to the federal treasury, the bill seeks to incentivize local communities to lead more forest health projects, ultimately helping to reduce wildfire risks and protect local ecosystems through 2028.