Senate Bill 474 aims to expand the eligibility criteria for grants administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for fire suppression efforts. Currently, the DNR provides grants covering up to 50 percent of the costs associated with acquiring supplies, equipment, and training for forest fire suppression. The proposed legislation specifically includes the purchase of fire suppression products derived from soybeans as an eligible cost for these grants.

The bill introduces a new section, 26.145 (2m), which explicitly states that soybean-derived fire suppression materials qualify for funding under the existing grant program. This addition is intended to promote the use of innovative and potentially more sustainable fire suppression products in Wisconsin's efforts to combat forest fires.