The bipartisan FIREWALL Act provides a federal tax credit for Americans protecting their homes from natural disasters by upgrading fire resistance, floodwater management, and other mitigation measures.
Full text of the bill here
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Facilitating Increased Resilience, Environmental Weatherization and Lowered Liability Act (FIREWALL), a bipartisan bill aimed at promoting community resilience to natural disasters through the creation of a new federal tax credit.
“Helping families make their homes more resilient to natural disasters will help reduce the level of damage inflicted by future disasters and save American taxpayers in the long run,” said Senator Schiff. “As California works to recover from the costliest natural disaster in its history, I’m proud that my first bill introduced in the Senate will help California communities and those in other disaster-prone states make the necessary upgrades that we know can reduce damage, prevent further devastation, and save lives.”
“As a former aerial firefighter, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating aftermath of natural disasters on communities and families,” said Senator Sheehy. “Given the unpredictability of a natural disaster, this bipartisan bill ensures that the American people receive the support they need to safeguard themselves against future disasters.”
The tax credit will cover 50% of the eligible upgrades up to $25,000 for families who make less than $200,000 a year, with the credit phasing out for families making below $300,000. Eligible upgrades include fire resistant building materials and roofing, stormwater barriers, air filtration, and the removal of vegetation posing a risk to a home, to list a few. The credit will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2026 and is fully refundable, ensuring that costs are not a barrier for communities to make the upgrades needed to protect themselves from future disasters.
Every federal dollar spent on mitigation against fires, flooding, and other natural disasters saves the taxpayer six dollars in the long run, according to an analysis by the National Institute of Building Sciences.
The credit is available to communities that have experienced a federally declared disaster in the last 10 years and will support Americans across the country in states like California, Montana, North Carolina, and Florida, as they navigate the aftermath of natural disasters.
The bill is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters, National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Counties, Western Fire Chiefs Association, California Fire Chiefs Association, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience, Association of Firetech Innovation, Megafire Action, Fire Aside, PG&E, National Association of Realtors, Safe Community Project MySafe:LA Division, American Institute of Architects, Glendale Fire Department, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority.
Senator Schiff has been steadfast in his response to supporting communities impacted by the recent Los Angeles-area fires. Senator Schiff, along with Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), led 47 bipartisan members of the California Congressional delegation in successfully urging former President Biden to grant Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to these fires to expedite timely relief to help Los Angeles residents recover and rebuild. Additionally, Schiff, Padilla, Rep. Ken Calvert, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren led the entire California delegation to successfully push FEMA to extend the application deadline for federal disaster assistance for victims of the Los Angeles fires.
Full text of the bill is available here.
See quotes of support for the bipartisan FIREWALL Act below:
“As we in the fire service endure what has become a year-round fire season, so too are the communities we are sworn to protect, particularly the citizens who lose their homes in the ever-increasing inferno of bigger, faster, and more devastating wildfires. In the wake of such devastation, the American spirit of renewal can only occur when the victims’ grit and tenacity is matched by the support and assistance of legislation. The FIREWALL Act from Senators Schiff and Sheehy provides that support, empowering victims of major disasters to rebuild their homes, reclaim their lives, and regain their communities while also helping people prepare before the next disaster hits,” said Brian Fennessy, President, California Fire Chiefs Association, Chair, FIRESCOPE Board of Directors, Fire Chief, Orange County Fire Authority.
“PG&E has taken a stand that catastrophic wildfires shall stop. Homeowners play a crucial role in wildfire prevention. This bill will help ensure that more Americans can make their homes more resilient against wildfires, including by creating defensible space that can help save their homes and protect firefighters,” said PG&E Corporation CEO Patti Poppe.
“The FIREWALL Act is a critical investment in the safety and resilience of American communities. By empowering homeowners to adopt disaster-resistant measures, this legislation will protect lives and property and reduce the economic toll of natural disasters. Research shows that every $1 invested in resilience saves $13 in recovery costs, which is a compelling case for action. As leaders in resilient design, architects understand the transformative power of smart planning and strategic investment. The American Institute of Architects is proud to support this measure, which paves the way for stronger, safer, and more sustainable communities,” said Evelyn Lee, National President American Institute of Architects
“The Glendale Fire Department strongly supports the FIREWALL Act and commends its proactive approach to disaster mitigation. This bipartisan bill is a crucial step in enhancing the resilience of homes and communities against increasingly severe natural disasters, including wildfires, windstorms, and floods. By offering a refundable tax credit for qualified mitigation expenditures, the bill empowers homeowners to take vital steps to protect their properties, strengthening our community’s ability to respond to and recover from disasters. Disaster preparedness and mitigation are key to saving lives and minimizing damage. This tax credit will provide our residents with the means to invest in essential mitigation measures, such as fire-resistant materials and water management systems—critical tools for ensuring the safety and resilience of our community. With California facing growing natural hazards, the FIREWALL Act will ensure that more homes are better prepared, ultimately improving our ability to protect lives and property when disaster strikes,” said Jeff Brooks, Interim Fire Chief, City of Glendale.
“We are excited to see the Firewall Act incentivize homeowner actions to make their properties safer from wildfire. Reducing the risk to structures in the built environment is a crucial and often overlooked element to reducing the long-term costs and losses associated with wildfire. Bills like this are how we will get ahead of the problem and how we address the kind of catastrophic losses associated with wildfires that become urban conflagrations, as we tragically saw in the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires,” said Annie Schmidt, Managing Director, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience.
“As wildfires become more frequent and severe, proactive measures are essential to protect lives, homes, and communities. The FIREWALL Act represents a critical step forward in giving residents the financial support and resources they need to create defensible space and harden their properties. By supporting local action and preparedness, this legislation helps build stronger, more resilient communities in the face of growing wildfire threats. It’s the kind of support wildfire-prone regions like ours need now more than ever,” said Mark Brown, Executive Officer, Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
“I’ve seen firsthand how defensible space and home hardening can mean the difference between a home surviving a wildfire or being destroyed. Embers can travel miles ahead of a wildfire front and ignite homes that aren’t prepared. Hardening houses with fire-resistant roofs and ember-resistant vents, along with maintaining defensible space, is critical to stop those ignitions. The FIREWALL Act gives homeowners the support they need to make these lifesaving upgrades, which will significantly improve public safety,” said Christopher Anthony, former CAL FIRE Chief Deputy Director.
“This bill is exactly the kind of bipartisan action we need to incentivize more homeowners and communities to reduce wildfire risk on their properties. By empowering homeowners to invest in proven mitigation technologies, the FIREWALL Act will reduce disaster costs, and help protect communities before the next fire starts,” said Molly Hausmann, Acting Executive Directive of the Association of Firetech Innovation on behalf of the Association of Firetech Innovation.
“As the designated regional Fire Safe Council for Los Angeles County, one of our most pressing challenges is supporting residents who have aged in place in homes that are 30 years old or more. These individuals often lack the financial means to retrofit their homes with the necessary upgrades to reduce wildfire risk. This bill offers a critical solution—it will make ‘home hardening’ both accessible and achievable for vulnerable populations. More importantly, it will help save lives and protect entire communities as the growing threat of wildfires continues to endanger our region,” said David Barrett, Executive Director, Safe Community Project, MySafe:LA Division
“As wildfires grow more intense each year, our communities need timely federal support like the FIREWALL Act. This legislation empowers homeowners to protect their homes and their neighbors by making it easier to maintain defensible space and harden homes, strengthening entire neighborhoods against wildfire. The FIREWALL Act will help bring this level of engagement and safety to wildfire-prone communities nationwide and ensures our communities remain prepared and resilient,” said Jason Brooks, CEO of Fire Aside.
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