Sponsors
The bill trades stronger protection of forestland, wildlife habitat, wildfire risk reduction, and water resources (with conservation-focused acquisition and limited new roads) for constrained property development, potential strains on emergency access and local planning, and redirected Forest Service capacity that may delay other projects and research.
Rural and wildland homeowners and communities will see prioritized wildfire risk reduction activities that lower the chance of fire damage to homes and infrastructure.
Local governments and downstream communities that rely on federal-land waters will benefit from focused maintenance and improvement of drinking water resources on public lands.
Local residents, hunters, recreationists, and visitors will retain conserved forestland and protected winter habitat, preserving wildlife populations and recreational access.
Rural residents and local emergency services may face hindered emergency response and year‑round access because access is restricted to seasonal unpaved routes.
Other regions, stakeholders, and land management tasks could see delays, fewer projects, and longer backlogs because Forest Service staff and resources are concentrated on the bill’s prioritized activities.
Parcel owners and potential developers cannot obtain federal approval or funding to build a year‑round road or utility corridor, limiting property development options and access improvements.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Bans new utility corridors and year‑round roads on specified White River National Forest land, limits inholding access to existing seasonal unpaved routes, and directs efforts to acquire the parcel for conservation.
Introduced March 24, 2026 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress March 24, 2026
Prohibits construction or approval of any new utility corridor or year‑round road on specified Federal land in the White River National Forest to protect winter wildlife habitat and to prevent a proposed access route to a 680‑acre inholding. Limits inholding access to existing, unpaved, seasonal routes and requires special‑use permits with enforceable terms for those routes. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to seek to acquire the inholding from willing sellers, coordinate with state and local partners, and report to Congress within 180 days; if acquired, the parcel would be added to the National Forest for conservation and public use.