The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) is pressing lawmakers to advance federal wildfire legislation, warning that inaction risks worsening losses for communities nationwide.
Sam Whitfield, APCIA's senior vice president of federal government relations, said wildfire events have grown in both severity and frequency in recent years, with widespread impacts across the country. He explained that federal reforms are essential to reduce wildfire risks, strengthen community resilience and protect lives and property.
The House has passed its version of the Fix Our Forests Act, or H.R. 471, in January, led by Reps. Bruce Westerman and Scott Peters. In April, Sens. John Curtis, John Hickenlooper, Tim Sheehy and Alex Padilla introduced a companion bill, or S. 1462, in the Senate.
Both bills align with recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. Provisions include reducing fuel loads in forests and rangelands, preventing utility infrastructure from sparking fires through vegetation management, and promoting community wildfire risk reduction.
APCIA noted that both the House and Senate versions support measures to encourage fire-resistant building codes, construction methods, and standards. The association joined 21 other organizations in sending a letter urging the Senate to move quickly on the legislation. Earlier this year, APCIA and other insurance trade groups issued a similar appeal.
The insurance industry has faced mounting wildfire-related losses, particularly in high-risk states such as California, Oregon, and Colorado. Insurers have responded by tightening underwriting standards, reducing capacity in wildfire-exposed areas, and relying more heavily on reinsurance to absorb catastrophic risks.
Federal reforms such as the Fix Our Forests Act could help reduce insurers’ long-term exposure by lowering the frequency and severity of claims. Measures to improve vegetation management and promote fire-resistant construction are expected to support market stability, potentially improving the availability and affordability of coverage in vulnerable regions.
Until such reforms take effect, carriers are expected to continue balancing underwriting discipline with consumer demand. Analysts suggested that without meaningful risk-reduction policies, insurers may face ongoing pressure to raise premiums or limit coverage in wildfire-prone areas.
APCIA stressed that Congress has an opportunity to act before the next wildfire season. The association warned that delaying action would leave communities locked in a cycle of escalating losses.
