HR 718 United States House · 119th Congress

Public Lands in Public Hands Act

This bill prohibits the U.S. Interior and Agriculture Secretaries from transferring title of certain federal lands to non-government entities. It specifically blocks transfers of lands that are publicly accessible (via roads, trails, or waterways) or adjacent to such lands, unless the land is under 300 acres or meets specific exceptions. Key exceptions include small parcels under 5 acres accessible by water, transfers authorized by historical laws like the Alaska Statehood Act, and land exchanges already permitted by federal law. The bill does not affect existing transfers under these authorized programs or prevent agencies from subdividing land to meet acreage thresholds.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Feb 28, 2025
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 18 co-sponsors

Sponsors