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WA SJM8015
JM
Status
2/11/2026
Primary Sponsor
Shelly Short
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AI Summary
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Washington State Legislature petitions Congress and federal agencies to ensure federal wildfire response capacity remains adequate during the consolidation of wildland fire programs under Executive Order 14308 (signed June 12, 2025) and Secretarial Order 3443 (signed September 10, 2025)
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Expresses concern over reported federal workforce reductions of 5,000 U.S. Forest Service employees and 7,500 Department of Interior employees through the Deferred Resignation Program and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority
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Requests the consolidated Department of Interior Wildland Fire Service be fully operational and staffed by April 1, 2026, ahead of the 2026 wildfire season
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Urges delay of any further reorganization involving the U.S. Forest Service until national wildland fire activity drops to Preparedness Level 2
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Calls for careful, deliberate implementation of any unification process to avoid reducing wildland firefighting capacity in 2027
Legislative Description
Requesting Congress to ensure that federal wildfire response entities have the capacity to protect communities and infrastructure, limit impacts to natural resources and watersheds, and protect wildland firefighter health and safety.
Last Action
Public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 8:00 AM.
2/18/2026