Environment (Public Lands)

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 704: Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025

This bill establishes a mandatory $150 million funding stream (2025-2029) from the Commodity Credit Corporation to improve public access to conservation lands. It specifically allocates $3 million to encourage public access to wetland reserve easement lands through agreements with states and tribal governments. The program directly affects landowners holding these easements and state/tribal entities managing conservation areas. The key mechanism is using federal funds to incentivize voluntary agreements that make existing wetland conservation areas more accessible to the public.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates $150M to improve public access to conservation lands/wetlands, directly funding environmental conservation through easement agreements with states/tribes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3695: Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026

This bill amends the Santini-Burton Act to improve land management in the Lake Tahoe Basin by specifically supporting the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. It authorizes the federal government to transfer funds to the Tribe for acquiring and managing culturally significant land, and requires collaboration with the Tribe, states, local governments, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency for activities like forest health, water quality, and preserving cultural sites. The bill mandates annual spending plans developed with Tribe consultation, prioritizing projects that meet environmental thresholds and leverage community support. These changes directly address the Tribe’s limited land ownership (under 0.5% of the Basin) and aim to enhance shared stewardship of the region.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates collaboration for forest health, water quality, and cultural site preservation - direct environmental protection measures90% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands Water Quality Tags Tribal Nations

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died · United States · Senate Dec 4, 2025

SJRES 91: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision".

This bill (SJRES 91) seeks congressional disapproval of a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule authorizing oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) Coastal Plain. It directly affects the BLM's ability to implement this leasing program by aiming to block the rule under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The resolution would nullify the rule (issued December 2024) if passed, preventing the BLM from moving forward with leasing activities in the Coastal Plain area. The resolution references a Government Accountability Office opinion confirming the rule qualifies for disapproval under the CRA.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill blocks BLM's oil/gas leasing rule in ANWR Coastal Plain, directly opposing fossil fuel energy development in protected area.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBlocks oil/gas leasing in ANWR Coastal Plain, protecting fragile ecosystem from drilling impacts and preserving conservation area per BLM rule disapproval.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Coastal & Flood Protection Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 1389: Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025

This bill updates payment rules for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which helps farmers conserve land and water. It directly affects farmers who enroll in the program, particularly those with water rights or using dryland farming (non-irrigated agriculture). Key changes include: allowing landowners to choose annual payment distribution; setting payment rates equal to irrigated rates for agreements permanently retiring water rights; and creating a new payment rate for dryland uses based on the difference between irrigated and dryland rates. Existing agreements with lower rates will be adjusted retroactively under these new rules. The bill aims to better align payments with conservation outcomes like water savings.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill improves Conservation Reserve Program to conserve land/water, incentivizes retiring water rights, and supports dryland farming conservation - directly advancing environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Jan 24, 2025

HR 731: Green Tape Elimination Act of 2025

HR 731, the Green Tape Elimination Act of 2025, exempts certain forest fire prevention activities on federal land from major environmental review and legal requirements for 10 years. It specifically removes the need for compliance with the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and related laws when conducting "hazardous fuel reduction activities," such as prescribed burns, creating firebreaks, or mechanically removing dead vegetation. The bill also adds a provision to the Clean Air Act allowing the EPA to exclude air quality monitoring data directly caused by these activities from violation determinations. This directly affects federal land management agencies (like the Forest Service) conducting fire prevention work on public lands.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts forest fire prevention from Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, weakening environmental protections by removing legal requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Oct 23, 2025

S 3044: Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2025

This bill amends the Clean Air Act to clarify how air quality data affected by wildfires and planned fire management is handled. It adds "prescribed fire" (a planned fire set for forest management) to the definition of "exceptional events" that states can use to explain temporary air quality spikes. States must now determine if wildfire or prescribed fire emissions qualify as exceptional events, and the EPA must review these state decisions within 180 days. This directly affects state air quality agencies, federal land managers, and wildfire management programs by changing how they report and handle air quality data during fire events.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAllows states to exempt wildfire/prescribed fire emissions from Clean Air Act standards, weakening pollution control enforcement by enabling regulatory bypasses for managed forest fires.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2026

S 3493: Carson City Public Land Correction Act

This bill transfers approximately 1,288 acres of federal land to Carson City, Nevada, for public uses like recreation and flood mitigation, and 0.45 acres for roadway expansion (requiring a crosswalk). It also authorizes the sale of 360 acres of federal land, with proceeds deposited into an existing account. The city pays all conveyance and disposal costs, including environmental assessments, and must maintain existing utility easements. Proceeds fund local projects including wildlife conservation, wildfire prevention, and public land acquisitions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds wildlife conservation projects with proceeds from land sales, directly supporting environmental protection and conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 8, 2025

S 2208: Wildfire Resilient Communities Act

This bill allocates $30 billion to fund wildfire prevention projects on federal lands, prioritizing areas near at-risk communities, high-value watersheds, and regions with high wildfire risk. It requires federal land managers (like the Forest Service and National Park Service) to focus on reducing flammable vegetation through methods like prescribed burns and thinning. The bill also establishes a County Stewardship Fund, directing 25% of receipts from federal forest contracts to local counties for any governmental use. Additionally, it adds $3 billion for community wildfire defense grants through 2031 to support local fire resilience efforts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates $30B for wildfire prevention via prescribed burns/thinning, protecting watersheds and forests - directly advancing environmental conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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passed · United States · Senate Jun 15, 2026

S 2033: Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act

This bill directs the Comptroller General to study how federal programs and funding help or hinder wildfire mitigation efforts across different land ownerships (including federal, state, tribal, and private lands). It examines existing rules, funding access for agencies like the USDA Forest Service and FEMA, and analyzes activities from the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. The study will identify improvements to simplify cooperation between federal, state, local, and tribal governments on wildfire prevention. The Comptroller General must submit a report with findings and recommendations to Congress within two years. This is a procedural study bill focused on improving coordination, not implementing new policies.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill studies federal programs to improve wildfire mitigation coordination, aiming to enhance conservation across land ownerships per Healthy Forests Restoration Act analysis.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Public Lands Tags Emergency Management

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2026

S 2881: A bill to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes.

This bill transfers specific federal lands between agencies to better align management with nearby protected areas. It moves approximately 160 acres of National Forest System land (in Tuolumne County) to the Secretary of the Interior for inclusion in Yosemite National Park, and about 170 acres of National Park System land to the Secretary of Agriculture for management as part of Stanislaus National Forest. The bill ensures existing rights, permits, and hazardous substance cleanup responsibilities remain with the original agencies until the transfer date. Minor land adjustments can be made with mutual agreement, and all transfers follow the map titled "Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange" dated February 24, 2022.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentTransfers land to Yosemite National Park, enhancing conservation by aligning management with protected areas per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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