HR 7979 United States House · 119th Congress

Public Lands Access Restoration Act

This bill requires federal land agencies to assume that designated motorized roads and trails remain open unless restrictions are clearly justified by resource protection or public safety concerns. It mandates that any access restrictions be properly signed, mapped, publicly announced, and reviewed at least every five years to ensure they remain necessary. The legislation also allows the public to propose new motorized routes or convert existing closed roads, with agencies prioritizing requests that improve connectivity, protect resources, support wildfire management, or enhance recreational access. These rules apply to National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management roads and trails, excluding wilderness areas and national parks.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 18, 2026 Last action Mar 26, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee Hearings Held
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
lower
Mar 18, 2026
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
Mar 18, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors