Sponsor
Jodey Cook Arrington
Representative · R-TX
Representative · R-TX
The bill shifts LWCF-funded conservation toward keeping land in private ownership and using non‑purchase tools — protecting property rights and local tax bases — but at the cost of limiting states' ability to buy land for parks and conservation, raising costs/delays for some projects, reducing sale options for landowners, and creating administrative uncertainty.
Homeowners and state governments keep privately owned parcels from being acquired with LWCF grants, preserving local ownership, private use, and local control over land.
States and local communities are encouraged to pursue non‑purchase conservation tools (easements, partnerships), which can conserve land while keeping properties on local tax rolls and supporting local revenues.
State governments and local communities lose flexibility to purchase private land with LWCF grants for parks and conservation, which could reduce land protection, limit park expansions, and constrain public recreation opportunities.
States and local governments may face higher costs, greater complexity, and delays for conservation projects if fee‑simple purchases become impractical or restricted, slowing or raising the price of preserving land for public benefit.
Private landowners who want to sell to states for conservation may lose a market or face fewer options to monetize property, reducing prospects for those seeking to sell land for conservation purposes.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Stops States receiving LWCF assistance from using that federal aid to acquire land, water, or interests from private landowners.
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 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants under the specified statutory provision from using those federal funds to buy land, water, or interests in land or water from private owners. The change amends the chapter that governs LWCF assistance to add a prohibition on acquisitions from private landowners by recipient States. The bill does not spell out additional funding, exceptions, or implementation details in the provided text; one conforming amendment is indicated but incomplete. The practical effect is to restrict one permitted use of federal LWCF assistance by States.