Sponsors (5)
Official title: To establish the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area to conserve, protect, and promote the economic benefits of the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Upper and Middle Texas Gulf Coast as a unit of the National Park System.
Introduced June 15, 2026 by Randy Weber · Last progress June 15, 2026
The bill expands public coastal recreation, voluntary conservation, and federal partnership support—benefiting local economies and ecosystem protection—while trading off higher taxpayer and local matching costs, limits to assembling contiguous protected lands, potential reductions in some federal environmental safeguards, and increased administrative and infrastructure pressures.
Rural communities, local businesses, and visitors will gain expanded public access to coastal recreation (hiking, hunting, fishing, water access) and increased nature/heritage tourism that can boost local economies and jobs.
Local governments, nonprofits, and residents will benefit from voluntary conservation and protection of coastal habitats, aquatic resources, and culturally significant sites that support ecosystem health and resilience.
Private landowners and homeowners retain property protections because participation is voluntary, condemnation is prohibited, and acquisitions are limited to willing-seller transactions, reducing risk of forced takings.
Taxpayers and local budgets could face higher costs because the Act authorizes federal administrative spending, unspecified "such sums as may be necessary," and ongoing support for Partnership staff and programs.
Conservation outcomes may be limited and fragmented because land assembly is restricted to donations and willing‑seller purchases, making it difficult to secure contiguous parcels needed for ecological connectivity and large projects.
The Act requires substantial non‑Federal matching (often far more than Federal shares), which can strain local, county, and nonprofit budgets and slow or limit project implementation.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Creates a new Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area and voluntary Network in five Texas counties, establishes a local Partnership, limits federal land acquisition to willing transactions, and requires an approved integrated Plan to guide management and funding.
Creates the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area as a new National Park Service unit and a voluntary "Network" of associated sites in five Texas coastal counties to expand public access, conserve coastal lands and waters, support recreation- and nature-based local economies, and protect coastal ecosystems. It establishes a local-federal Partnership to develop an integrated resource management plan, limits federal land acquisition to willing sellers or transfers, preserves state and private authorities and hunting/fishing access where allowed, and authorizes unspecified appropriations to carry out planning, partnership operations, interpretation, and cooperative projects consistent with the approved Plan.