Sponsors (8)
The bill preserves existing Forest Service enforcement discretion and avoids imposing new criminal penalties on Forest Service lands, but that protection risks reduced deterrence and public-safety benefits, creates inconsistencies across federal lands, and may shift costs onto rural communities and local enforcement.
Forest Service employees and visitors on National Forest lands will not be subject to new criminal penalties under the specified rule, preserving current legal exposure for federal staff and the public.
The Forest Service keeps its existing law enforcement practices and discretionary authority, avoiding immediate procedural or operational changes for on-the-ground management.
People using National Forest lands (especially in rural communities) may face reduced protections or deterrence because the rule's intended criminal penalties will not apply, potentially harming public safety.
Treating Forest Service lands differently from other federal lands could create enforcement inconsistencies across agencies, confusing the public and complicating coordination for law enforcement.
Limiting the Forest Service's ability to apply the rule may reduce deterrence or punishment of criminal conduct on Forest lands, potentially increasing cleanup, damage, or enforcement costs for visitors and local communities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bars the U.S. Forest Service from implementing or enforcing the Nov. 25, 2024 "Law Enforcement; Criminal Prohibitions" final rule and declares it without force for the agency.
Prohibits the U.S. Forest Service from administering, implementing, or enforcing the final rule published at 89 Fed. Reg. 92808 (Nov. 25, 2024) titled "Law Enforcement; Criminal Prohibitions," and declares that rule to have no force or effect as to the Forest Service. The action applies only to the Forest Service and does not change the rule’s status for other federal agencies or jurisdictions.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Celeste Maloy · Last progress December 17, 2025