Environment (Conservation)

in committee · United States · House Mar 24, 2025

HR 2298: Reducing Barriers for Broadband on Federal Lands Act of 2025

HR 2298 exempts certain broadband infrastructure projects on federal lands from requiring environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and historic preservation reviews under the National Historic Preservation Act. It applies specifically to wireline or wireless broadband installations (like fiber lines or cell towers) by broadband providers on federal rights-of-way, such as areas adjacent to roads or highways. The bill removes the need for agencies to conduct full environmental assessments or historic site reviews for these projects, streamlining approvals. This directly affects federal land managers (like the BLM or Forest Service) and broadband providers seeking to expand service on public lands. The key change is eliminating specific regulatory hurdles for qualifying broadband projects on federal rights-of-way.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts broadband projects from NEPA environmental reviews, weakening protections by removing required impact assessments.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRemoves regulatory barriers for broadband infrastructure deployment on federal lands, directly expanding internet access and advancing technology infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands Broadband Access Telecommunications

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 4, 2026

S 446: A bill to prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve from being designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.

This bill prohibits Big Cypress National Preserve from ever being designated as wilderness or added to the National Wilderness Preservation System. It directly affects the preserve by preventing any future federal action that would change its status to wilderness. The key provision is a clear legal ban on such designations, ensuring the preserve remains outside the wilderness system. The bill does not create new management rules but blocks a specific potential change to its legal classification.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill blocks wilderness designation for Big Cypress National Preserve, preventing stronger environmental protections and conservation requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation

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in committee · United States · Senate Nov 20, 2025

S 3227: Protecting American Farmland Act

This bill prohibits federal funding for ground-mounted solar projects that convert prime farmland (defined as the most productive agricultural land under existing law) and excludes such projects from key tax credits like the residential clean energy credit (Section 25D), production tax credits (Sections 45, 45Y), and investment tax credits (Sections 48, 48E). It directly affects solar developers and property owners seeking to install solar facilities on prime farmland, blocking both federal financial support and tax incentives for these projects. The bill uses the existing definition of "prime farmland" from the Farmland Protection Policy Act to prevent agricultural land from being repurposed for solar energy generation. Its core mechanism is a dual restriction: no federal funds for covered projects and exclusion from tax credits for solar installations on protected farmland.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly restricts tax credits (Sections 25D, 45, 45Y, 48, 48E) and prohibits federal funding for solar projects on prime farmland, directly limiting tax incentives and defunding specific initiatives.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBlocks federal funding and tax credits for solar on prime farmland, restricting renewable energy development as defined in the bill's summary.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks federal funding and tax credits for solar projects on prime farmland, restricting clean energy development that aligns with environmental protection goals.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts solar energy technology deployment on prime farmland by blocking federal funding and tax credits, limiting renewable energy technology adoption.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar Conservation Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Jan 31, 2025

HR 841: To amend title 54, United States Code, to prohibit the acquisition of land, water, or an interest in land or water from a private landowner using amounts made available under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

HR 841 amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) provisions in U.S. law to prohibit states from using LWCF funds to purchase land, water, or related interests directly from private landowners. This restriction applies specifically to states receiving financial assistance under the LWCF program. The bill adds a new section (l) to 54 U.S.C. § 200305 and amends § 200306 to explicitly state that LWCF appropriations cannot fund acquisitions from private owners. The policy change directly affects state governments that administer LWCF funds for conservation projects.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prohibits LWCF funds from acquiring land/water from private owners, restricting a key conservation funding mechanism for environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Oct 3, 2025

HR 281: Grizzly Bear State Management Act

HR 281, the Grizzly Bear State Management Act, directs the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a 2017 rule that removed the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population from the federal endangered species list. This reissuance must occur within 180 days of the bill's enactment, and the rule cannot be challenged in court. The bill directly affects grizzly bear management in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem by making the 2017 delisting permanent under federal law. It does not change hunting or conservation rules but ensures the prior federal delisting decision is finalized without judicial review.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill permanently removes grizzly bears from ESA protections, weakening federal conservation requirements and reversing environmental safeguards for the species.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1192: To ensure that Big Cypress National Preserve may not be designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.

This bill prohibits the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida from being designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The National Park Service currently manages Big Cypress National Preserve, which is a freshwater swamp ecosystem of 729,000 acres.  In general, development activities, commercial activities, permanent structures, and roads are prohibited in wilderness areas. In contrast, natural preserves typically allow some development activities, such as hunting or oil and gas exploration.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents wilderness designation, removing strict protections that would limit development/commercial activities in the preserve, weakening conservation requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation

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signed · United States · House Nov 25, 2025

HR 2316: Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025

This bill amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to delay when interest earned on the Federal aid to wildlife restoration fund becomes available for apportionment to states. Specifically, it changes the effective date from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2033, meaning states will not receive this interest for wildlife conservation funding until 2033. The bill directly affects state wildlife conservation programs that rely on these federal funds for projects like habitat restoration. The title "Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act" does not reflect the bill's actual focus, which is a procedural change to fund timing rather than new conservation measures.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill delays wildlife conservation funding until 2033, restricting immediate state funding for habitat restoration. This defunds conservation programs that rely on these federal funds.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

in committee · United States · House May 20, 2025

HR 1885: Town of North Topsail Beach Coastal Barrier Resources System Map Amendment Act of 2025

This bill corrects the map for the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) to exclude specific parcels in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, that are zoned for non-conservation uses (like development) as of the bill's enactment date. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to remove these parcels from CBRS Unit L06 within 30 days of the bill becoming law. This change removes federal restrictions on federal spending and development in those parcels, directly affecting landowners and developers in North Topsail Beach. The amendment applies only to areas within the town's municipal boundaries, based on existing local zoning rules.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves parcels from CBRS conservation system, lifting federal development restrictions and weakening environmental protections95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves federal development restrictions on parcels zoned for non-conservation uses, enabling housing construction by lifting CBRS barriers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Property Development Zoning

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in committee · United States · House Jan 28, 2025

HR 775: No Net Gain in Federal Lands Act of 2025

HR 775, the No Net Gain in Federal Lands Act of 2025, requires the U.S. Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to maintain a "no net gain" in federal land ownership within any state each fiscal year. This means the total acres of federal land acquired (including fee title and other interests) cannot exceed the acres disposed of (sold or transferred) in that state during the same year. The bill mandates annual inventories and reports tracking land holdings by interest type (e.g., fee, easement), and if acquisition exceeds disposal, the President must convey equivalent land to the state within 24 months. It directly affects federal land management agencies and state governments by limiting federal land expansion without corresponding disposal.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prevents federal land expansion for conservation, restricting new protected areas and weakening environmental protection efforts by mandating no net gain in federal ownership.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Apr 9, 2025

HR 2773: Landowner Easement Rights Act

HR 2773, the Landowner Easement Rights Act, limits new conservation easements to 30 years and gives current landowners with certain long-term easements (over 30 years old or created before 1977 without a map) the right to renegotiate or buy back their easements. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide landowners with a detailed map and current fair market value notice within six months of a request, then offer renegotiation for a new 30-year term or payment equal to the easement's value minus prior payments (adjusted for inflation). Landowners can also choose to purchase the easement back at fair market value. The Secretary must notify landowners of these rights 3 months before specific milestones related to their easement's status. This directly affects private landowners holding eligible conservation easements managed by the Department of the Interior.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentLimits conservation easement duration to 30 years and enables landowner exit, weakening long-term environmental protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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