SB 5491 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Establishing a prescribed fire claims fund pilot program.

This bill creates a pilot program establishing a state fund to reimburse landowners, fire districts, certified burn managers, and tribal cultural fire practitioners for property damage caused by properly conducted prescribed burns or cultural burns. The fund covers losses up to $2 million per claim for damage meeting specific criteria (e.g., burns following approved plans by certified practitioners), excluding cases involving criminal or negligent acts. It expires on June 30, 2033, and requires annual appropriations to operate. The program aims to reduce financial liability concerns that have limited the use of prescribed fire as a forest health tool.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Substitute Bill · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to broaden the list of eligible entities that can receive insurance coverage for prescribed fires, added new definitions for 'conservation districts' and 'fire districts', and removed specific references to the department's cost-reimbursement authority to streamline the language. These changes expand the pilot program's reach to include more local organizations while simplifying the statutory text.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly includes 'conservation districts' and 'fire districts' as eligible entities for the claims fund, whereas the original version only listed general nonpublic entities.
ELIGIBILITY

Added 'conservation districts' and 'fire districts' to the list of eligible nonstate and nonfederal entities that can receive coverage for prescribed fire losses.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'conservation district' and 'fire district' to clarify which organizations qualify under the program.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the specific reference to the department's authority under RCW 76.04.475 regarding reimbursement for reasonable costs, replacing it with a more general statement about costs authorized for reimbursement.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect its status as a 'Substitute Bill' and changed the reading date from January 24, 2025, to February 21, 2025.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
And refer to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors