HB 1379 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, in Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, further providing for forests and establishing the Forest Fire Warden Fund.

HB 1379 creates a dedicated "Forest Fire Warden Fund" within the Pennsylvania state treasury to reimburse local forest fire wardens for approved activities. The bill establishes that funds from this new account will cover expenses related to controlled burns, fire investigations, public safety events, training, and mutual aid requests made to emergency management agencies. It directly affects local forest fire wardens and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by providing a clear funding mechanism for their operational costs. This procedural change streamlines reimbursement processes under the existing Conservation and Natural Resources Act without altering forest management policies.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
Dec 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced May 4, 2025 Last action Dec 16, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1580 Printer's No. PN2706 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill revision adds a new Forest Fire Warden Fund and expands the duties of forest fire wardens to include fire suppression, patrol, lookout duties, and responding to mutual aid requests from emergency management agencies or the Governor. The changes clarify that reimbursements to forest fire wardens must come from this newly established fund and specify that expenses must be approved by the Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. These modifications enhance the department's capacity to manage forest fire prevention and response activities through dedicated funding and expanded operational responsibilities.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from general forest management to specifically include fire suppression, patrol, and lookout duties, with a new dedicated funding mechanism.
FISCAL

Established a new Forest Fire Warden Fund in the State Treasury with continuing appropriations to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Changed reimbursement language to specify that activities must be reimbursed from the Forest Fire Warden Fund for expenses incurred under subsections (d)(13) and (14)

REQUIREMENT

Added new duties for forest fire wardens including fire suppression, patrol, lookout duties, and responding to mutual aid requests from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency or Governor

Added requirement that Chief Forest Fire Warden expenses must be approved by the Secretary before reimbursement from the Fund

Floor votes · House Dec 16, 2025

How they voted

260
Passed
Total votes 26
Dec 16, 2025
D Democratic14
14 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican12
12 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Dec 16, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (26-0)
house
Dec 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
May 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors