H.R. 345 — Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025

This section directs the Secretaries of Agriculture, the Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense, not later than one year after enactment, to (1) establish standard operating procedures relating to payment timelines for fire suppression cost share agreements under the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act (42 U.S.C. 1856a)—which authorizes federal agencies to enter reciprocal agreements with local fire organizations for mutual aid in fire protection, including waivers of claims and reimbursement of costs—and (2) review and, as necessary, modify each such agreement in operation on the date of enactment to comply with those procedures. The procedures must require each cost share agreement to align with applicable cooperative fire protection agreements for the relevant entity and mandate federal reimbursement to local fire departments upon submission of an invoice per cost settlement procedures. This section expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretaries carry out such repayments as soon as practicable after fire suppression occurs but not later than one year after.