ACRES Act
Last action on Mar 4, 2026
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The ACRES Act would establish new requirements for how the Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior track and report their wildfire prevention efforts on federal lands. Currently, these agencies conduct vegetation management activities to reduce wildfire risk, but there is no standardized way to measure or report these efforts across the government. This bill would change that by requiring both departments to include annual reports in the President's budget showing how many acres of federal land received hazardous fuels reduction treatments in the previous year.
The bill would also mandate that USDA and Interior implement standardized procedures for tracking data related to these wildfire prevention activities. These procedures would include regular reviews to ensure data accuracy, methods to verify that reported activities actually occurred, and analysis of how effective these treatments are at reducing wildfire risk over both short and long terms. For activities near populated areas, the agencies would need to distinguish which acres are in the wildland-urban interface, where fire prevention is particularly important for protecting homes and communities.
Finally, the Government Accountability Office would be required to study how well the agencies implement these new tracking requirements and report its findings back to Congress. This oversight mechanism would help ensure the government is accurately measuring and reporting its wildfire prevention work. The bill has passed the House and cleared committee in the Senate, making it eligible for a floor vote in that chamber. If enacted, it would primarily affect how federal land management agencies document their wildfire prevention activities rather than changing the activities themselves.
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Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
Feb 12, 2026
Feb 12, 2026 · 15:00
On February 12, 2026, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining held a legislative hearing to examine 23 bills addressing public lands management, conservation, and resource development. The bills covered diverse topics including economic development and conservation in Nevada, mineral withdrawal protections in Nevada and Utah, wildfire mitigation through grazing, offshore critical minerals development, and land conveyances to local governments in Colorado and Utah. The hearing examined legislation with varying policy approaches. Some bills sought to withdraw federal lands from mineral leasing and development, such as S. 1349 to protect the Ruby Mountains and Ruby Lake areas in Nevada. Others focused on land management tools, including S. 1981, the Strategic Grazing to Reduce Risk of Wildfire Act, which would authorize grazing as a wildfire prevention strategy. Subcommittee Chairman Barrasso highlighted his Grasslands Grazing Act, noting that "Federal grazing is a necessary tool for wildfire prevention and promoting rangeland health." Additional bills addressed land conveyances to municipalities, access to public lands, and modernization of federal land acquisition authority. The hearing did not result in immediate action on the bills. A legislative hearing allows committees to gather information and perspectives before deciding whether to advance legislation, but the hearing itself does not guarantee that any of the bills will move forward.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Mar 4, 2026
Mar 4, 2026 · 09:30
On March 4, 2026, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a business meeting in Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to consider multiple pieces of legislation and executive nominations. The bills addressed a range of land management and conservation issues, including measures to release Montana land from wilderness study area designation, establish a national historic site in Georgia, study the feasibility of designating the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Utah, authorize grazing for wildfire risk reduction, and convey federal lands in various states including Nevada, Utah, California, and Kentucky. The committee also considered bills requiring accurate reporting on hazardous fuels reduction activities and addressing grazing agreements on national grasslands. In addition to the legislation, the committee considered three nominations: Stevan Pearce of New Mexico to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management, David LaCerte of Louisiana to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Kyle Haustveit of North Dakota to be Under Secretary of Energy. No witnesses were listed for this business meeting, which is typical for such sessions where the committee votes on whether to advance bills and confirm nominees. A business meeting is a procedural step where the committee decides whether to report bills to the full Senate for consideration and whether to recommend confirmation of nominees. The holding of a business meeting does not guarantee that bills will advance or that nominees will be confirmed.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
Feb 12, 2026
Feb 12, 2026 · 15:00
On February 12, 2026, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining held a legislative hearing to examine 23 bills addressing public lands management, conservation, and resource development. The bills covered diverse topics including economic development and conservation in Nevada, mineral withdrawal protections in Nevada and Utah, wildfire mitigation through grazing, offshore critical minerals development, and land conveyances to local governments in Colorado and Utah. The hearing examined legislation with varying policy approaches. Some bills sought to withdraw federal lands from mineral leasing and development, such as S. 1349 to protect the Ruby Mountains and Ruby Lake areas in Nevada. Others focused on land management tools, including S. 1981, the Strategic Grazing to Reduce Risk of Wildfire Act, which would authorize grazing as a wildfire prevention strategy. Subcommittee Chairman Barrasso highlighted his Grasslands Grazing Act, noting that "Federal grazing is a necessary tool for wildfire prevention and promoting rangeland health." Additional bills addressed land conveyances to municipalities, access to public lands, and modernization of federal land acquisition authority. The hearing did not result in immediate action on the bills. A legislative hearing allows committees to gather information and perspectives before deciding whether to advance legislation, but the hearing itself does not guarantee that any of the bills will move forward.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Mar 4, 2026
Mar 4, 2026 · 09:30
On March 4, 2026, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a business meeting in Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to consider multiple pieces of legislation and executive nominations. The bills addressed a range of land management and conservation issues, including measures to release Montana land from wilderness study area designation, establish a national historic site in Georgia, study the feasibility of designating the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Utah, authorize grazing for wildfire risk reduction, and convey federal lands in various states including Nevada, Utah, California, and Kentucky. The committee also considered bills requiring accurate reporting on hazardous fuels reduction activities and addressing grazing agreements on national grasslands. In addition to the legislation, the committee considered three nominations: Stevan Pearce of New Mexico to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management, David LaCerte of Louisiana to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Kyle Haustveit of North Dakota to be Under Secretary of Energy. No witnesses were listed for this business meeting, which is typical for such sessions where the committee votes on whether to advance bills and confirm nominees. A business meeting is a procedural step where the committee decides whether to report bills to the full Senate for consideration and whether to recommend confirmation of nominees. The holding of a business meeting does not guarantee that bills will advance or that nominees will be confirmed.