Sponsor
The bill preserves private ownership and promotes non‑purchase conservation methods that keep land on local tax rolls, but it limits states' ability to acquire private land for parks and conservation, raising costs, reducing options for sellers, and creating legal uncertainty for program administration.
State governments and local communities keep privately owned parcels that are funded under LWCF grants, preserving local ownership, use, and control instead of transferring title to the federal government.
Local governments and rural communities may see more conservation done through easements, partnerships, and other non‑purchase tools that leave land on local tax rolls and maintain local revenue streams.
State governments and the public lose or see reduced ability to expand public parks or permanently protect private land because the bill limits using LWCF grants to acquire fee title, reducing options for creating new publicly owned recreation or conservation lands.
State and local governments could face higher costs and greater complexity when pursuing conservation projects if fee purchases become the primary viable option, which may delay or deter projects.
Private landowners seeking to sell property for conservation may have fewer market opportunities and reduced ability to monetize land sales because the bill restricts acquisition options.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Representative · R-TX
Bars States receiving LWCF assistance under 54 U.S.C. §200305 from using that assistance to acquire land, water, or interests in land or water from private owners.
Official title: To amend title 54, United States Code, to prohibit the acquisition of land, water, or an interest in land or water from a private landowner using amounts made available under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Introduced January 31, 2025 by Jodey Cook Arrington · Last progress January 31, 2025
Prohibits States that receive federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) assistance under 54 U.S.C. §200305 from using that federal assistance to acquire land, water, or interests in land or water from private landowners. The bill makes a conforming amendment to related LWCF statutory language, but the conforming text is incomplete in the provided summary.