Sponsor
Harold Dallas Rogers
Representative · R-KY
Representative · R-KY
The bill designates a multi-county Heritage Area that can spur local tourism and gives local organizations federal backing and a planning timeline, but the support is time-limited (15 years) and places planning and administrative costs onto local entities.
Residents and small businesses across the 36 named Kentucky counties gain a nationally recognized Heritage Area that can attract tourists and new economic development to these rural communities.
Local organizations (e.g., the Center for Rural Development) and local governments receive federal recognition and support and are given a formal coordinating role to lead conservation, recreation, and heritage projects.
The requirement to prepare and submit a management plan within three years gives communities a near-term roadmap for preservation, recreation, and community planning in the region.
Federal assistance for the Heritage Area terminates after 15 years, potentially leaving local stakeholders to cover ongoing maintenance and program costs once seed funding ends.
Creating and implementing the required management plan imposes additional administrative and planning costs on the designated local coordinating entity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Designates the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area (36 counties), names a local coordinating entity, requires a management plan in 3 years, and ends federal assistance authority after 15 years.
Official title: To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to designate as a component of the National Heritage Area System the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area in the State of Kentucky, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 1, 2026 by Harold Dallas Rogers · Last progress September 1, 2026
Designates a Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area covering 36 named Kentucky counties and names the Center for Rural Development as the local coordinating entity. The local coordinating entity must submit a proposed management plan to the Interior Secretary within three years, and the Secretary's authority to provide federal assistance for the area ends 15 years after enactment.