Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act

HR 9604, the Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act, requires states and trail sponsors to obtain landowner consent and provide fair market value compensation before temporarily converting abandoned rail corridors into trails. It mandates written notice to affected property owners and local governments, signed approval from landowners within 30 days, and ongoing financial responsibility for trail maintenance. The bill also requires a 90-day public comment period and a detailed cost-benefit analysis assessing safety, health, economic impacts, and the likelihood of future rail service before approval. An advisory committee of landowners, rail carriers, and trail sponsors will later recommend maintenance standards, but the core changes focus on protecting landowner rights during corridor conversions.