Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act

# Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act Summary **What the bill would do:** The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—Congress's independent auditing agency—to study how wildfire prevention and management efforts can work better across different land ownership boundaries. The study would focus on identifying barriers and recommending ways to simplify coordination between federal agencies (like the U.S. Forest Service) and state, local, and Native American tribal governments when fighting wildfires. **Who it affects:** This bill affects wildfire-prone regions across the country, particularly in western states. It impacts federal land management agencies, state and local governments, tribal nations, and communities vulnerable to wildfires.

Improved coordination could benefit rural areas and properties near federal lands. **Key provisions and status:** The bill's main provision is commissioning a research study rather than making direct policy changes. The GAO would investigate current challenges in cross-boundary wildfire mitigation and provide recommendations to streamline the process. As of now, the bill is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It was introduced by Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).