I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 345 
To require the standardization of reciprocal fire suppression cost share 
agreements, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 13, 2025 
Mr. HARDER of California (for himself and Mr. LAMALFA) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 
and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and 
Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the standardization of reciprocal fire suppression 
cost share agreements, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fire Department Re-
payment Act of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO CERTAIN FIRE SUP-
PRESSION COST SHARE AGREEMENTS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
STANDARD
OPERATING 
PROCEDURES.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall— 
(1) establish standard operating procedures re-
lating to payment timelines for fire suppression cost 
share agreements established under the Act of May 
27, 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as 
the ‘‘Reciprocal Fire Protection Act’’); and 
(2) with respect to each fire suppression cost 
share agreement in operation on such date— 
(A) review each such agreement; and 
(B) modify each agreement as necessary to 
comply with the standard operating procedures 
required under paragraph (1). 
(b) ALIGNMENT OF FIRE SUPPRESSION COST SHARE 
AGREEMENTS WITH COOPERATIVE FIRE PROTECTION 
AGREEMENTS.—The standard operating procedures re-
quired under subsection (a)(1) shall include a requirement 
that each fire suppression cost share agreement be aligned 
with each of the cooperative fire protection agreements ap-
plicable to the entity subject to such fire suppression cost 
share agreement. 
(c) PAYMENTS PURSUANT TO COST SHARE AGREE-
MENTS.—With respect to payments made pursuant to fire 
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suppression cost share agreements, the standard operating 
procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall require 
that the Federal paying entity reimburse a local fire de-
partment if such fire department submits an invoice in 
accordance with cost settlement procedures. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretaries should carry out reciprocal fire 
suppression cost share agreement repayments to local fire 
suppression organizations as soon as practicable after fire 
suppression occurs but not later than 1 year after fire sup-
pression occurs. 
(e) SECRETARIES DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means— 
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture; 
(2) the Secretary of the Interior; 
(3) the Secretary of Homeland Security; and 
(4) the Secretary of Defense. 
Æ 
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