HYDE-SMITH, MERKLEY BILL WILL IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH, EXPAND MARKET FOR FORESTRY BIOMASS BYPRODUCTS

HYDE-SMITH, MERKLEY BILL WILL IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH, EXPAND MARKET FOR FORESTRY BIOMASS BYPRODUCTS

'Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act' Would Broaden Renewable Fuel Standard Definition of Eligible Renewable Biomass

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve forest health and management by creating new market demand for timber and forestry biomass byproducts.

The Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act would expand the definition of renewable biomass materials that qualify under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program within the Clean Air Act. Importantly, the legislation covers both non-federal private land and federal lands, which broadens its appeal beyond regional interests.

"This bipartisan bill creates avenues to help reduce the wildfire threats in the West but also clears the way for biomass produced from non-federal lands in heavily forested states like Mississippi to contribute to the nation's renewable fuels resources," Hyde-Smith said. "With this bill, we will make it easier to develop a new revenue stream for the thinnings, logging residuals, and mill byproducts that Mississippi landowners and forest products manufacturers already generate, without requiring them to change how they manage their timberland."

"Reducing wildfire risk demands innovative solutions and using all the tools at our disposal to invest in wildfire prevention efforts," said Merkley. "Woody biomass that comes from responsible forest management activities-like hazardous fuels reduction-presents a huge opportunity for communities in Oregon and across the nation. By updating the definition for these materials to qualify as renewable fuels, we can harness their power to create new markets for these materials, reducing wildfire risk and supporting healthier public, private, and Tribal lands."

A key barrier to proactive forest management is the lack of viable markets for the woody material removed during fuel reduction treatments, thinning operations, and defensible space clearing. Without an economic outlet for this material, the cost of forest management remains prohibitively high for landowners and land managers, leaving forests untreated and vulnerable to wildfire, insects, disease, and habitat degradation. This bill is designed to create new value for forestry residuals and byproducts, helping offset the cost of proactive forest management.

The Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act addresses this by expanding the definition of renewable biomass under the RFS, making a broader range of forest-derived material - including thinnings, harvest residuals, wood chips, sawdust, bark, and manufacturing byproducts from private, federal, and tribal lands - eligible to generate Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). RINs are the tradeable credits that track renewable fuel volumes under the RFS program, giving refiners more compliance flexibility and expanding the supply of qualifying feedstock.

Mississippi has more than 18.9 million acres of forested land, and the bill's streamlined certification process would let private landowners make woody biomass from that land RFS-eligible by self-certifying as part of the RIN generation process with no new federal permitting layer required.

U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Angus King (I-Maine) are original cosponsors of the Senate measure. U.S. Representatives Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) introduce a House companion bill, which is cosponsored by U.S. Representative Mike Ezell (R-Miss.).

A summary of the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act is available here.

More than 80 stakeholder organizations support the legislation, including the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Mississippi Forestry Association, Mississippi Loggers Association, Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association, Wildlife Mississippi, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience, American Forest Fuels Alliance, American Biomass Energy Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Forest Resource Council, American Loggers Council, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Boone and Crockett Club, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Forest Landowners Association, National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of State Foresters, National Deer Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pellet Fuels Institute, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association.

"NAFO thanks Senator Merkley and Senator Hyde-Smith for their leadership in introducing the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026. Supporting this legislation is an easy call. The bill creates a powerful new tool for addressing the wildfire crisis and the ongoing closures of wood-consuming paper mills by unlocking practical markets for low-value wood and mill residuals. It supports forest health and resilience through active forest management, strengthens the sawmills that supply our housing sector, bolsters rural economies, and helps America meet growing demand for renewable fuels. At a time when forest owners, mills, and rural communities are facing real economic peril, this targeted fix to the definition of wood in the Renewable Fuel Standard is exactly the kind of commonsense solution Congress should advance," said Dave Tenny, President and CEO, National Alliance of Forest Owners.

"Farm Bureau appreciates the introduction of bipartisan legislation that supports farmers, foresters and both public and private forest lands across the United States. Updating the definition of renewable biomass for the Renewable Fuel Standard will support active land stewardship and reduce wildfire risk through improved management of public lands. Farm Bureau encourages the Senate to swiftly consider the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026," said Dr. John Newton, Vice President of Public Policy and Economic Analysis, American Farm Bureau Federation.

"The Forest Landowners Association applauds Senators Jeff Merkley and Cindy Hyde-Smith for introducing the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026. Family forestry businesses need an all-of-the-above approach to market opportunities, and low-value wood products, manufacturing residuals, and woody biomass should be part of that conversation. While no single policy will address every challenge facing working forests, expanding potential markets for these materials can help provide additional certainty and opportunity for private forest landowners, rural communities, and our nation's forest products supply chain," said Scott Jones, CEO, Forest Landowners Association.

"The National Wild Turkey Federation proudly supports the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026. A major barrier to achieving healthy, fire-resilient forests is the lack of viable markets for materials generated through forest-management activities, including small-diameter trees, treetops, limbs, and other woody residues. Enabling these materials to be used for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel creates a critical economic incentive that supports active forest management, strengthens rural wood products infrastructure, and advances forest health," said Matt Lindler, Director of Government Affairs, National Wild Turkey Federation.

At an oversight hearing in June, Hyde-Smith focused on the risks posed by the delayed cleanup of significant damage to privately owned and national forest property caused by the May 6-7 tornadoes and Winter Storm Fern.

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