Sponsors (5)
The bill creates a federally managed Chesapeake Bay National Recreation Area that secures public access, coordinated stewardship, and local economic opportunities, but it increases federal spending and administrative burdens while imposing new limits and procedural requirements on states, localities, landowners, and taxpayers.
Residents, visitors, and nearby communities will gain preserved public access to Chesapeake Bay natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources through the establishment and expansion of a National Recreation Area and related protections.
Businesses, local governments, and communities around the Bay can see increased tourism and related economic activity from a federally designated recreation area and improved visitor services.
Fishers, farmers, youth, tribes, and other stakeholders get formal representation and an ongoing advisory body that can influence National Park Service management, planning decisions, and subject-focused recommendations.
Taxpayers and federal budgets face increased costs for land acquisition, remediation, ongoing park operations and maintenance, management-plan implementation, Gateways funding, and administrative support for a new advisory commission.
Local governments, state agencies, nonprofits, and private landowners could face new use restrictions, limits on sales (donation-only requirements), reduced opportunities to monetize surplus lands, and constraints on private activities where public access or restoration obligations apply.
States, localities, and partner organizations may incur added administrative and coordination burdens, staff time, or unfunded obligations to comply with program designations, studies, management requirements, and public-access agreements—creating uncertainty and local costs.
Based on analysis of 9 sections of legislative text.
Creates a National Recreation Area along the Chesapeake Bay, authorizes voluntary land acquisition, establishes an advisory commission, and requires a management plan.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Christopher Van Hollen · Last progress April 10, 2025
Creates a new National Recreation Area along the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia, to protect and interpret Bay-related natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources once the Interior Secretary determines enough land or interests have been acquired. It sets rules for land acquisition (donation, purchase from willing sellers, exchange, or federal transfer), prohibits condemnation, preserves state authority over fishing and navigation, authorizes coordination with existing Chesapeake Bay programs, establishes a 19-member advisory commission (including a youth member), and requires a management plan to be completed after funding becomes available.