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JFAC approves $40 million one-time transfer to Fire Suppression Defiency Fund
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to transfer $40 million from the General Fund to the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund to cover wildfire costs for fiscal 2025.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 14 approved a one‑time transfer of $40,000,000 from the General Fund to the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund to cover firefighting costs in fiscal year 2025.
The transfer was carried by motion from Representative Manwaring and seconded in committee; the roll call showed unanimous support, with 20 ayes, 0 nays and 0 absent or excused. The committee packet and analyst testimony described the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund as a dedicated, continuously appropriated account the Department of Lands uses to pay firefighting costs during the fire season.
Committee analyst Janet Jessup briefed members on the request and staff materials in the committee’s yellow packet. Representative Manwaring moved the transfer describing it as a one‑time appropriation and transfer to the continuously appropriated Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund. In committee discussion Manwaring noted the transfer “should bring the fire fund above $50,000,000” but warned that last year’s fire season cost roughly $60,000,000, meaning that if there is a similar season the department could still need to use the deficiency warrant process to pay final bills.
The committee took no amendments to the motion and adopted the due‑pass recommendation without objection. Committee minutes show the move was intended to ensure the Department of Lands has cash available to cover fire suppression operations as the state progresses through the 2025 fire season.
The action is procedural — a General Fund transfer into an existing, continuously appropriated special fund — and does not change program structure or staffing. The Department of Lands continues to administer fire suppression expenditures from the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund as authorized by statute and the appropriation.
Funding and next steps: The transfer was reflected in the committee’s supplemental actions for FY2025 and will appear in the detailed appropriation language forwarded to the full Legislature. The Department of Lands retains the statutory authority to expend the fund for firefighting operations; the committee did not add programmatic conditions to the transfer.
