Sponsors (8)
The bill expands outreach and inclusion on public lands to increase access for underrepresented and rural visitors, but does so at the cost of new taxpayer‑funded compliance expenses and potential legal uncertainty from making an executive directive legally binding.
Underrepresented people (including nonprofit partners and people with disabilities) will have increased access to public lands and waters because public‑land agencies are required to implement outreach and inclusion programs.
Visitors from diverse and rural communities will face fewer barriers and find public lands and waters more welcoming as agencies must promote inclusion and reduce access obstacles.
Taxpayers and local governments may face new costs because federal agencies will need to fund staffing, training, and compliance to meet binding diversity and inclusion requirements.
Federal employees and nonprofit partners could face legal uncertainty and additional litigation costs if an executive memorandum is converted into binding requirements, inviting legal challenges.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes a 2017 Presidential Memorandum on diversity and inclusion in national parks, forests, and public lands legally binding by giving it the force of law.
Makes a 2017 Presidential Memorandum on promoting diversity and inclusion in national parks, national forests, and other public lands and waters legally binding by giving that memorandum the force and effect of law. This changes the memorandum from nonbinding executive guidance into a legal requirement for the agencies and entities covered by the memorandum. By converting the memorandum into law, the bill creates enforceable obligations tied to the memorandum’s content (diversity, inclusion, outreach, and related actions on public lands) without specifying new funding or an effective date.
Introduced August 8, 2025 by Emily Randall · Last progress August 8, 2025