S. 3785 — North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026

This section states congressional findings on the Grand Canyon's historic, cultural, geological, and economic value as a national treasure and ancestral homeland of 11 Indian Tribes; U.S. responsibilities to those tribes; and impacts of the Dragon Bravo Fire and White Sage Fire, which collectively burned more than 200,000 acres in the North Rim and Kaibab National Forest and destroyed more than 100 structures, including the Grand Canyon Lodge.

This section defines terms for purposes of the Act, including "(1) covered area" as any area within Grand Canyon National Park or Kaibab National Forest impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire; "(2) Dragon Bravo Fire" as the wildfire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona that began on July 4, 2025, and was contained on September 29, 2025; "(3) forest management or restoration activity" as slash and hazard tree removal (as defined in 43 U.S.C. 1772(a)), erosion control, slope stabilization, tree regeneration, wildlife rehabilitation, and reseeding with native seeds; "(4) Secretary concerned" as the Secretary of the Interior (through the National Park Service Director) for Grand Canyon National Park or the Secretary of Agriculture (through the Forest Service Chief) for Kaibab National Forest; and "(5) White Sage Fire" as the wildfire near Fredonia, Arizona, that began on July 9, 2025, and was contained on September 12, 2025.

This section authorizes the Secretary concerned to use emergency acquisition flexibilities under part 18 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)—including increased micro-purchase thresholds, simplified acquisition thresholds, and other subpart 18.2 authorities—for contracting in the covered area the following services related to the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire: (1) forest management or restoration activities; (2) rebuilding, planning, development, and design of affected structures; (3) improvements to grounds and structures; and (4) other recovery efforts necessary for economic and ecological well-being. The authority does not apply to other services unless provided by law or regulation. This section requires the Secretary concerned to submit reports every 180 days—beginning 180 days after first using the authority and continuing until 180 days after expiration—to the Senate Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committees on Natural Resources and Oversight and Government Reform. The reports must describe all related expenditures (including expected costs, actual expenditures, overruns, under-budget contracts, and estimated completion times); identify contractors and any affiliations or conflicts of interest with contracting offices at Grand Canyon National Park/National Park Service or Kaibab National Forest/Forest Service; detail any detected waste, fraud, or abuse; assess need for authority extension; and summarize recovery progress. This section permits the Secretary concerned to request a 1-year extension of the authority, subject to congressional approval, if a new wildfire after enactment impacts recovery efforts. The authority expires at the earlier of 5 years after enactment or Secretary determination that recovery efforts are complete.

This section directs the Secretary concerned, in conducting planning, design, and reconstruction activities for recovery from the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire in the covered area, to (1) invite applicable Indian Tribes to participate and (2) engage applicable local stakeholders (e.g., units of local government, nonprofit organizations, local and Tribal businesses, and community groups). It further directs the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, to prioritize contracting with Tribal businesses and local businesses for such reconstruction activities.

This section authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into noncompetitive procurement contracts with existing National Park Service or Forest Service authorized concessioners in the covered area—from the date of enactment through the date specified in section 4(e)—to carry out coordinated recovery efforts relating to the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire at facilities operated by the National Park Service, Forest Service, or the concessioners.

This section directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study on the costs of carrying out the recovery efforts authorized under this Act and submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees.