Forest Disaster Recovery Reform Passess Congress

After years of advocacy, legislation to expedite disaster recovery for forest landowners has passed Congress and is being sent to the President’s desk.

FLA applauds the leadership of Senator Deb Fischer and Representative Julia Letlow for championing S.629 and H.R.1011, and we extend our sincere thanks to the bipartisan cosponsors who helped move this long-overdue reform across the finish line.

For years, FLA has made improving disaster recovery programs for forest landowners a top federal priority. Following Hurricane Helene, FLA formally recommended that Congress modernize and streamline disaster recovery tools to better reflect the realities facing working forests and the families who steward them.

As landowners now face both wildfire season and hurricane season, this legislation represents meaningful progress toward faster recovery, reduced barriers, and greater certainty after disaster strikes.

Private forest landowners provide economic opportunity, maintain healthy working forests, support rural communities, and make long-term investments that often span generations. When disaster hits, recovery cannot be delayed by unnecessary administrative hurdles.

We are proud to see Congress act on an issue FLA has consistently elevated and advocated for on behalf of our members.

This work is not finished.

FLA will continue fighting for policies that provide certainty for landowners across the country and ensure family forestry businesses can continue managing and passing their land to the next generation.