A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT
relating to private land stewardship and wildfire resilience through repayable loans, technical assistance, liability protections, and recognition programs; providing for a short title and sunset provision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Texas Private Land Stewardship and Wildfire Resilience Act of 2026.
SECTION 2. Legislative Findings.
The Legislature finds that private landowners are the primary stewards of most Texas land and that voluntary forest thinning, grassland restoration, and firebreak construction reduce catastrophic wildfire risk, create rural jobs, and improve long-term land productivity. Limited state support focused on providing technical help, fully repayable financing, liability protection, and recognition can expand these activities without new permanent spending or tax expenditures.
SECTION 3. Definitions.
In this Act:
(1) “Qualifying stewardship project” means a verified private-land project that includes forest thinning to standards set by the Texas A&M Forest Service, native grassland restoration, or construction of permanent firebreaks.
(2) “Biomass utilization” means productive use of thinned material for energy, industrial fuel, or commercial purposes rather than open burning or landfill disposal.
SECTION 4. Fully Repayable Infrastructure Loans.
(a) The state may offer fully repayable loans for infrastructure directly supporting qualifying projects, including temporary access roads, staging areas, and biomass collection points.
(b) Loans are capped at 20 percent of total project cost. Interest rates shall be set within a range of the current prime rate to prime rate plus three percent, adjusted according to project risk, borrower creditworthiness, collateral strength, and whether the project includes biomass utilization. Higher-risk or unsecured loans may carry rates toward the upper end of the range; lower-risk, well-collateralized projects with strong repayment plans may receive rates nearer the lower end.
(c) Loans require collateral or personal guarantees where appropriate and must be repaid within a maximum of seven years from project revenue, landowner payments, or biomass sales. Preference is given to projects that incorporate biomass utilization. Total program exposure is subject to annual legislative appropriation limits.
(d) Failure to repay according to the loan terms triggers the following remedies: acceleration of the full outstanding balance; referral to the Attorney General for collection; placement of liens on the subject property or other collateral; offset against any state payments owed to the borrower; and disqualification from future participation in programs under this Act for a period of at least five years. The administering agency may pursue any additional remedies available under general state debt-collection law.
SECTION 5. Technical Assistance and Market Facilitation.
(a) The Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Department of Agriculture shall jointly develop and publish clear, science-based standards for forest thinning density, native grassland restoration, and firebreak construction.
(b) The agencies shall offer free or low-cost technical guidance, including template stewardship plans, on-site or remote consultations, and written best-practice guides tailored to different ecoregions of Texas.
(c) The agencies shall create and maintain a publicly accessible online clearinghouse that lists verified private contractors, logging operators, equipment providers, and biomass buyers, and that allows landowners to post project opportunities.
(d) Qualifying projects that include documented biomass utilization may receive preferential scoring or priority consideration under existing state purchasing, energy, and conservation programs already authorized by law, without expanding those programs or creating new funding streams.
SECTION 6. Liability Protections.
(a) A private landowner who completes a qualifying stewardship project in substantial compliance with the published standards established under Section 5 and who constructs or maintains firebreaks on the property is not liable for civil damages for ordinary negligence arising from the planning, execution, or maintenance of those activities.
(b) This protection applies only to claims brought by third parties and does not limit liability for:
(1) gross negligence, willful or wanton misconduct, or intentional acts;
(2) failure to follow the applicable published standards; or
(3) injuries or damages occurring after the landowner has ceased maintaining the firebreaks or stewardship improvements.
(c) The protection does not affect workers’ compensation coverage, contractual obligations, or liability under federal law.
SECTION 7. Priority Access and Recognition.
(a) Qualifying stewardship projects receive priority consideration for participation in existing state cost-share or conservation programs that are already funded.
(b) The state shall establish a voluntary “Wildfire Resilience Steward” recognition program. Landowners who complete verified projects may use the designation for insurance, marketing, or public recognition purposes. The program operates at minimal administrative cost.
SECTION 8. Accountability and Reporting.
(a) Completion of any project receiving loans or recognition must be certified by an independent third party acceptable to the administering agency; the landowner bears the cost.
(b) Annual reports to the Legislature shall include acres treated, jobs supported, estimated wildfire-risk reduction, loan repayment status, and overall program costs.
(c) This Act does not authorize new land-use regulations or restrictions on private property rights beyond voluntary participation requirements.
SECTION 9. Sunset Provision.
This Act sunsets two years after the effective date unless reauthorized by the Legislature.
SECTION 10. This Act takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.
