Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act

This bill establishes a grant program for community protection and wildfire resilience, administered by FEMA and the Forest Service, to help eligible entities develop plans and carry out projects to reduce wildfire risks. It also requires reports on federal wildfire programs, radio communications for fire management, and updates to definitions of at-risk communities.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms including the Administrator (FEMA head), the Chief (Forest Service head), community protection and wildfire resilience plans (developed with local stakeholders and covering strategies like early detection, evacuation, and infrastructure hardening), critical infrastructure, defensible space projects (vegetation management within 100 feet of structures), eligible entities (states, tribes, local governments, fire departments, and collaborations), and the grant program.

Sec. 3, Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Grant Program: Requires FEMA to set up a grant program within one year. Grants can be used to carry out projects from an existing plan (up to $10 million) or to develop a new plan (up to $250,000). Priority goes to high-risk areas. Local contractors and labor are preferred. Non-federal cost share is at least 25% for project grants and 0% for plan development, with possible waiver or reduction. Authorizes $1 billion per year from 2025 to 2029.

Sec. 4, Government Accountability Office Report: Requires a GAO report within one year on federal wildfire protection programs and any funding gaps or implementation impediments.

Sec. 5, Government Accountability Office Study: Requires a GAO study within one year on potential certifications for community wildfire survivability, methods to incentivize insurance companies to accept such certifications, and metrics for insurance assurance.

Sec. 6, Updating List of At-Risk Communities: Amends the definition of at-risk communities to include groups of homes with basic infrastructure on or near federal land. Requires FEMA to publish a map of such communities within 180 days and every five years.

Sec. 7, Report on Radio Communications: Requires a report within two years on radio frequency sufficiency and interoperability for wildfire management, including coordination with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, and a plan to ensure communication during fire suppression.

Sec. 8, Amendment to Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program to Allow Structure Hardening: Amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to allow grant funds for projects that harden structures against flames or embers, including modifications to structures and adjacent areas to reduce wildfire exposure.