Post-Fire Relief and Response Policy Options

Policy Options

(‘**’ indicates bipartisan support) 

Housing Relief:

• Hawaii H.C.R 3 (enacted 2024): Calls for counties to establish emergency zoning codes to facilitate temporary housing in wake of the 2023 Maui wildfire.
• Oregon H.B. 3215 (enacted 2023): Authorizes loans, grants, and rental support to repair or replace damaged housing caused by wildfire, support land acquisition for housing in disaster-impacted communities, and establishes a Disaster Housing Recovery Fund.
• **Washington H.B. 1899 (enacted 2024): Promotes the rebuilding of homes and other community infrastructure impacted by wildfires using more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly methods.

Environmental Damage Assessments:

• Hawaii S.C.R 222 (enacted 2024): Mandates extensive soil testing in Lahaina following the August 2023 wildfire to examine soil contamination and risks to human health, groundwater, ocean ecosystems, and food production.
• Minnesota H.F. 3377 (enacted 2024): Directs the University​ of Minnesota to evaluate the​ long-term effects of wildfires on lake water​ quality, mercury mobilization, and mercury​ bioaccumulation in fish and to develop​ predictive tools to protect fishery and lake health.
• Oregon S.B. 752 (introduced 2023): ​​Mandates the Water Resources Department and the Department of Environmental Quality to study the impacts of wildfires on the water quality of streams and tributaries.

Ecosystem Rehabilitation:

• **New Mexico H.B. 195 (enacted 2024): Authorizes the State Forestry Division to engage in forest management activities including post-fire rehabilitation.
• **Colorado S.B. 54 (enacted 2021): Appropriates $4 million for watershed restoration and post-fire recovery efforts. 
• Hawaii H.R. 9 (enacted 2024): Urges the DLNR and USFWS to initiate a native plant seeding project to restore the ecological damage caused by wildfires.
• New Mexico H.B. 1 (enacted 2024): Appropriates $10 million for post-fire management including watershed restoration, slope stabilization, and erosion control.