This bill creates a new, temporary pilot program (a new section added to chapter 76.04 RCW) establishing a prescribed fire claims fund to reimburse losses from prescribed fires and cultural burning conducted in compliance with applicable requirements. It directs the Office of Risk Management (ORM), in consultation with the department (not named in the extracted text), to establish the pilot subject to available appropriations, and it also amends RCW 4.92.220 to add administration of the pilot as a use of the risk management administration account. The section takes effect immediately as an emergency and expires June 30, 2033. The bill sets eligibility and procedural rules: reimbursement is available for nonstate, nonfederal entities and certain claimants if burns were conducted by a certified burn manager under an approved plan or by a cultural fire practitioner with any required permits, and if claims are for specified property or economic damages or reasonable costs referenced in other RCWs. Claims caused by criminal or negligent acts are ineligible. The department must determine and certify eligibility; ORM may reimburse actual losses up to $2,000,000 per claim, subject to the availability of specific appropriations and overall account limits, and payments do not create an entitlement. The bill creates a prescribed fire claims account in the state treasury, requires ORM and the department to develop and post guidelines and rules, requires courts to offset other awards by amounts reimbursed under this section, and directs remaining funds upon expiration to the natural climate solutions account. The text provided does not identify which specific department is referenced, does not include the cited RCW provisions that define the covered types of damages and reimbursable costs (RCW 76.04.760(3)(a),(c),(d) and RCW 76.04.475), does not specify the new section number within chapter 76.04 RCW, and does not include appropriation amounts, funding sources, or detailed claims procedures or prioritization methodology.

If enacted, the bill creates a temporary pilot fund that can reimburse nonstate and nonfederal parties for property, economic losses, or department-authorized costs from prescribed fires and cultural burns that were conducted under an approved plan and permits or by an approved cultural fire practitioner. Reimbursements are certified by the department, can be paid up to actual loss but no more than $2,000,000 per claim, are conditional on available appropriations and account balances, do not create an entitlement, exclude losses from criminal or negligent acts, and the program expires June 30, 2033. Those most affected are private landowners, tribes, cultural fire practitioners, certified burn managers, conservation districts, fire districts, contractors, and other nongovernmental operators who would gain a potential financial backstop when burns are done correctly; they may face lower financial risk for eligible losses but still rely on uncertain appropriations and account limits. The office of risk management and an unnamed state department must set up, certify, and administer the program, develop guidelines and rules with partners, and use the risk management administration account for costs. Key details that remain unspecified here include which department is responsible, exact appropriation amounts, and how claim prioritization and submission procedures will work.