H.R. 204: ACRES Act · WHAT THE LAW DOIN

What it does

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Accurately Counting Risk Elimination Solutions Act or the ACRES Act

This bill establishes requirements regarding reports about hazardous fuels reduction activities and standardized procedures for tracking data for hazardous fuels reduction. Hazardous fuels reduction activities means any vegetation management activities that reduce the risk of wildfire but excludes the award of contracts to conduct hazardous fuels reduction activities.

First, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior must include in the materials submitted in support of the President's budget each fiscal year a report on the number of acres of federal land on which such activities were carried out during the preceding year.

Next, USDA and Interior must implement standardized procedures for tracking data related to such activities. The standardized procedures must include

• regular, standardized data reviews of the accuracy and timely input of data used to track hazardous fuels reduction activities;

• verification methods that validate whether such data accurately correlates to such activities;

• an analysis of the short- and long-term effectiveness of such activities on reducing the risk of wildfire; and

• for hazardous fuels reduction activities that occur partially within the wildland-urban interface, methods to distinguish which acres are located within and which located outside the wildland-urban interface.

Finally, the Government Accountability Office must (1) conduct a study on this bill's implementation, and (2) submit a report to Congress with the results of the study.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jan 3, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

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2026-07-23Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 490.Senate
2026-07-23Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.Senate
2026-07-23Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.Library of Congress
2026-03-04Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.Senate
2026-02-12Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-305.Senate
2025-01-22Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.Senate
2025-01-21Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
2025-01-21On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H244-245)House floor actions
2025-01-21Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H244-245)Library of Congress
2025-01-21DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 204.House floor actions
2025-01-21Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H244-246)House floor actions
2025-01-21Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.House floor actions
2025-01-03Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2025-01-03Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2025-01-03Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
2025-01-03Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

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