Wildfire Insurance Affordability Act
Latest action (23 Jul 2026): Introduced
What this bill does
The Wildfire Insurance Affordability Act would create two new federal programs and a related tax provision. First, it directs the U.S. Fire Administrator to establish, within 90 days of enactment, a formula grant program giving states, territories, tribes, and their local fire agencies funding for wildfire resilience work—such as fire-resistant roofing, vegetation clearance, and ember-resistant vents—on owner-occupied homes, small multifamily properties, and affordable housing. Grants are capped at $10,000 per household, funds are distributed using population, wildfire risk, and income/equity formulas, and up to 10% may go to administrative costs. Second, within 180 days the bill would launch a five-year pilot program giving states grants to distribute means-tested vouchers helping lower-income households (at or below 80% of area median income) in high-wildfire-risk areas who have completed qualifying mitigation work pay wildfire insurance premiums.
The bill primarily affects homeowners in wildfire-prone areas, state insurance regulators and fire agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofit or local partners implementing mitigation work. A tax change would exclude these grant and voucher payments from recipients' taxable income.
Introduced July 23, 2026, by Senator Merkley and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the bill has not yet received committee action, floor votes, or become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on July 23, 2026. It will typically be considered by committee next before it is possibly sent on to the House or Senate as a whole.
Common questions
- What does S. 5106 do?
- The Wildfire Insurance Affordability Act would create two new federal programs and a related tax provision. First, it directs the U.S. Fire Administrator to establish, within 90 days of enactment, a formula grant program giving states, territories, tribes, and their local fire agencies funding for wildfire resilience work—such as fire-resistant roofing, vegetation clearance, and ember-resistant vents—on owner-occupied homes, small multifamily properties, and affordable housing. Grants are capped at $10,000 per household, funds are distributed using population, wildfire risk, and income/equity formulas, and up to 10% may go to administrative costs. Second, within 180 days the bill would launch a five-year pilot program giving states grants to distribute means-tested vouchers helping lower-income households (at or below 80% of area median income) in high-wildfire-risk areas who have completed qualifying mitigation work pay wildfire insurance premiums. The bill primarily affects homeowners in wildfire-prone areas, state insurance regulators and fire agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofit or local partners implementing mitigation work. A tax change would exclude these grant and voucher payments from recipients' taxable income. Introduced July 23, 2026, by Senator Merkley and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the bill has not yet received committee action, floor votes, or become law.
- Has S. 5106 become law?
- Not yet. As of 23 Jul 2026, S. 5106 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 5106?
- S. 5106 was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR] (Democrat-OR), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 5106?
- Introduced (23 Jul 2026).
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