Sponsors (8)
The bill requires public-land agencies to expand outreach and inclusion to increase access for underrepresented visitors, but does so at the cost of added taxpayer-funded compliance expenses and potential legal challenges from making guidance legally binding.
Visitors from underrepresented and diverse communities (including people with disabilities, rural residents, and users served by nonprofits) will face fewer barriers because public-land and water agencies must implement outreach and inclusion programs to increase access and participation.
Taxpayers and local governments may bear higher costs because federal agencies will need to allocate resources to comply with new, binding diversity and inclusion requirements.
Federal employees, nonprofits, and agencies could face legal uncertainty and litigation costs because converting an executive memorandum into legally binding requirements may prompt court 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 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 declaring the memorandum to “have the force and effect of law.” In practice, the bill converts executive guidance on diversity and inclusion for federal land-management agencies into a statutory requirement that those agencies must follow.
Official title: To codify the Presidential Memorandum of January 12, 2017, relating to promoting diversity and inclusion in our national parks, national forests, and other public lands and waters.
Introduced August 8, 2025 by Emily Randall · Last progress August 8, 2025