Texas Gov. David Acton has signed the Texas Private Land Stewardship and Wildfire Resilience Act of 2026, completing legislative action on a bill aimed at land management and wildfire-risk mitigation.
In a statement released after the signing, Acton said he introduced the measure in response to recent wildfires in Texas and argued that people living and working on the state’s large private landholdings should play a central role in prevention efforts.
“It is my good pleasure to stand with Texas land owners, conservationists, environmental enthusiasts, ecosystem experts, and rural communities in signing this bill,” Acton said. “Texas has seen devastating wildfire in recent years, and who knows our state’s vast lands than the people who live there?”
The governor said the law would empower landowners to take measures intended to reduce wildfire risk, protect the environment and support a safer future for residents and wildlife. The press release did not detail specific programs, funding, land-use requirements or implementation timelines under the new act.
The bill had been framed during its consideration in the State Legislature as a voluntary private-land stewardship measure focused on wildfire resilience. It passed the Legislature on Sept. 15, according to recent reporting, before being sent to Acton for his signature.
Acton, a Republican and former Texas House representative, had urged lawmakers earlier this month to approve the proposal. His signing statement emphasized cooperation among private property owners, rural communities, conservation advocates and environmental specialists.
The measure arrives as wildfire preparedness remains a significant concern for Texas communities and landowners. Acton’s statement tied the law to both risk reduction and environmental conservation, though the administration did not provide projections for its potential effect on wildfire frequency, damage or costs.
No additional details were released about how the state will administer the law or when its provisions will take effect.