Sponsors (2)
Official title: Provide for the protection of and investment in certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Alejandro Padilla · Last progress December 17, 2025
The bill directs extensive new conservation, wildfire resilience, recreation, and tribal‑co‑management measures that protect large swaths of California public lands and rivers while leveraging partners, but it does so by imposing significant limits on extractive uses and motorized access and by increasing federal management responsibilities and costs concentrated in California.
Rural communities, visitors, and downstream water users gain long‑term protection of roughly 600,000+ acres and multiple river segments, preserving habitat, scenery, and water quality.
Residents and local governments in fire-prone areas will see reduced wildfire risk and improved preparedness because the bill requires shaded fuel breaks, prescribed fire where appropriate, interagency fire-response procedures, and targeted insect/disease treatments.
Visitors, local businesses, and recreation users benefit from expanded recreation opportunities and tourism potential via new and designated trails, restored scenic and wildlife values, and permanently protected recreation lands.
Small businesses, workers, and local governments in affected areas face substantial limits on extractive and development activities (mining, mineral leasing, geothermal, timber, some energy projects), which could reduce local jobs and revenues.
Taxpayers and federal agencies are likely to face increased administrative duties and funding needs for new management obligations, studies, mapping, land acquisitions, restoration, and long‑term stewardship of designated areas.
Residents, recreation businesses, and infrastructure projects may be constrained by limits on motorized access, new wilderness boundaries, and restrictions that can complicate roads, transmission lines, and other infrastructure siting or upgrades (including some utility work).
Based on analysis of 14 sections of legislative text.
Designates a large restoration area, multiple wilderness areas and wild-and-scenic river segments in California; requires restoration and fire-management plans, a trail feasibility study, and sets rules for special management areas.
Creates a large restoration area and multiple wilderness, wild-and-scenic river, special management, and recreation trail designations on Federal lands in California, requires restoration and fire-management planning, and sets rules for motorized use, timber, grazing, land acquisition, and tribal cooperation. It directs studies and maps, authorizes a feasibility study and possible designation of the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail, establishes a partnership to remediate lands damaged by illegal cultivation, and protects certain utility rights-of-way while restricting some upgrades in specified areas.