Sponsors (5)
The bill directs modest mandatory USDA funding to expand voluntary public access and habitat incentives—benefiting rural landowners, states, tribes, and the public—while imposing a taxpayer cost and raising potential privacy, liability, and limited-targeting concerns for landowners and wetland priorities.
Rural landowners and farmers receive $150 million in mandatory CCC funding (FY2025–2029) to support voluntary public access and habitat incentive programs, providing direct financial support for conservation and land-management participation.
Residents and the public gain increased public access and improved habitat on conserved lands through federal support for voluntary agreements, including a targeted (though small) wetland reserve easement set‑aside.
State and tribal governments can partner with USDA to expand recreation and conservation opportunities on enrolled lands, enabling local implementation and coordination of public-use and stewardship activities.
Taxpayers fund $150 million in mandatory CCC spending over five years, increasing federal outlays and potentially crowding out other budget priorities.
Landowners who enroll easements may face increased public access that raises liability exposure, privacy concerns, and additional management or compliance costs.
The $3 million set‑aside for wetland reserve easements is small relative to the total funding, so wetland protection and specific tribal/state conservation priorities may receive limited support.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Provides $150M in mandatory CCC funding for voluntary public access and habitat incentives for FY2025–2029, with $3M set aside to encourage public access on wetland reserve easements via State and tribal agreements.
Introduced February 25, 2025 by Steve Daines · Last progress February 25, 2025
Provides $150 million in mandatory Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding to carry out the voluntary public access and habitat incentive program over fiscal years 2025–2029. From that amount, $3 million is set aside across 2025–2029 to encourage public access to lands under wetland reserve easements through agreements with States and tribal governments. Funding is mandatory CCC money (not subject to annual appropriations) and is directed to expand voluntary public access and habitat incentives, with a small dedicated pool to support public access on wetland easement lands via state and tribal partnerships.