Senate Unanimously Passes Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act

Bipartisan legislation would remove regulatory burden on proactive forest management, lower net emissions WASHINGTON —The U.S. Senate today unanimously passed the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA) following a unanimous consent request made by Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW). The bipartisan legislation, led by Senators Curtis and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), would streamline states’ use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. Original sponsors of the bill also included EPW Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). The bill was cosponsored by Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). Senator Curtis’ remarks as prepared are below, and video can be viewed here . As I speak today, Utah is in the midst of one of the most devastating fire seasons our state has seen in decades. More than 1,200 wildfires have already scorched half a million acres of our state. With every passing day, the threat to our communities, our lands, and our very lives grows more severe. That is why it makes no sense to leave a critical tool like controlled burns off the table. Prescribed fire is one of the most effective ways to reduce hazardous fuels and prevent catastrophic wildfires. The data, as presented to me by the Forest Service, is clear: wildfire prevention and containment are far more successful in areas where prescribed burns took place. Yet states that proactively use prescribed burns can face regulatory consequences for the temporary emissions created by the very work that prevents far greater wildfire emissions. Our bill, the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act , provides states with greater certainty by ensuring prescribed fires and other wildfire mitigation activities can be treated as exceptional events under the Clean Air Act. The people of Utah are not looking for an emissions loophole. They are looking to protect their families, communities, and land. This is about recognizing that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This bill passed the Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously, 19-0. That bipartisan support reflects something I think we can all agree on: states should not be punished for taking responsible action to prevent catastrophic wildfires. I appreciate Chair Capito and Senators Merkley, Boozman, Padilla, and Kelly for their work on this legislation. I urge my colleagues in the House to support WEPA and help us get this commonsense legislation across the finish line. Background: Utah fire seasons typically begin in July and end in October. To date, Utah has experienced over 1,226 total wildfires with more than 560,823 acres burned and many still out of control. While topography and natural weather conditions like a historic drought and an increasingly arid, hot climate contribute to an increase in the number of fires and their intensity, land managers can effectively influence fire behavior through proactive measures like prescribed burns. This reduces the amount of hazardous fuels, the dry vegetation that catches fire easily—helping protect forests, properties, and communities along the wildland-urban interface. Implementing these measures has become increasingly burdensome, with environmental reviews for even the smallest projects taking up to four years. Moreover, land managers can be deterred from prescribed burns due to existing environmental penalties. Yet, avoiding these controlled burns practically guarantees catastrophic wildfires that emit far more carbon than proactive management ever would. Senator Curtis has remained vocal on this issue, responding to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial highlighting the bill and his other efforts to address wildfires. Read the piece here . The Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act would: Make it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fire to prevent wildfire emissions; Protect ecosystems and wildlife habitat; Provide certainty that states won’t be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires; Promote the efficient use of state air quality resources; and Make our forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. The bill passed the EPW Committee with a vote of 19-0 on September 16, 2026. A one-pager on the bill is available here , and the full bill text is available here .