H.R. 1011: Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025

Farmers and owners of forest land hit by natural disasters could get help paying for repairs sooner under H.R. 1011. The bill changes the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program to widen who can receive payments and to allow cost-share money in advance.

Producers could receive an advance of 75% of the cost of replacing or rehabilitating farmland or conservation structures, and 50% of the cost of repairs. Current law limits advance payments to 25% of the cost of repairing or replacing fencing. Owners of nonindustrial private forest land could receive an advance of up to 75% of emergency measure costs and would have to use it within 180 days; today advances are not available under that program.

The bill would also cover damage from a wildfire that was not started naturally, including one started by the federal government, when the damage comes from the fire spreading through natural causes.