Environment (Public Lands)

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 20, 2025

S 647: Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025

The Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025 establishes seven regional research centers at colleges and universities across specific U.S. regions (Alaska, California, Northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Islands, Southeast, and Southwest) to advance wildland fire research. These centers will coordinate with federal fire management agencies, develop predictive tools for fire behavior and smoke impact, and create open data-sharing protocols following FAIR principles (findability, accessibility, interoperability, reusability). The law authorizes $60 million to $64 million annually for the centers from 2026-2030, plus $1 million yearly for a National Center Coordination Board that oversees research priorities and avoids duplication. It requires annual reports to Congress on research progress and establishes advisory boards with representation from tribal organizations, state agencies, and fire management professionals. This law directly affects land-grant universities, federal fire management agencies, Tribal organizations, and state wildfire management entities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes research centers to advance wildland fire research, develop predictive tools, and create open data-sharing protocols, directly supporting environmental protection and natural resource conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Jan 14, 2026

HR 7074: Keeping Public Lands Out of Adversarial Hands Act

HR 7074 requires the Secretary of the Interior to join the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) when reviewing transactions involving land or resources near federal lands managed by agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, or Bureau of Indian Affairs. It specifically targets acquisitions by foreign entities from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran, mandating CFIUS to assess whether such transactions - reported by the Interior Secretary - constitute a "covered transaction" requiring review. The bill creates a new process for evaluating these land deals, with the review ending for a specific country once it’s removed from the U.S. list of "foreign adversaries." This directly affects foreign buyers from those four nations seeking to acquire land adjacent to federally protected areas.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental protection by preventing foreign entities from acquiring federal lands and resources, thereby safeguarding natural resources and public lands from potential exploitation.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Dec 2, 2025

HR 6094: Fire Innovation Unit Act

The Fire Innovation Unit Act establishes a 7-year federal pilot program to test and deploy new wildfire prevention, detection, and response technologies. It connects private companies, nonprofits, and universities (covered entities) with government agencies like FEMA, tribal fire departments, and land management agencies (covered agencies) to jointly test technologies in real-world scenarios. Key provisions include identifying priority technology areas - such as remote sensing, safety equipment, community resilience tools, and autonomous systems - and requiring annual reports to Congress on costs, effectiveness, and procurement barriers. The program aims to accelerate the adoption of proven, cost-effective technologies through public-private partnerships, with the pilot ending seven years after enactment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes wildfire prevention and response technologies, which protect natural resources and reduce environmental damage from fires.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands Tags Emergency Management

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passed · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 2388: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act

HR 2388 transfers approximately 1,082 acres of federal land (within Olympic National Park) into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, adding it to their reservation in Washington State. The land will be managed under existing river protections, and the bill explicitly states this land cannot be used for tribal gaming under federal law. This act directly affects the tribe by expanding their reservation and clarifying land management rules, without altering treaty rights.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill transfers federal land to tribal trust with explicit river protections and prohibits gaming use, directly strengthening environmental conservation and land management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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passed · United States · House Jul 29, 2026

HR 5631: Geothermal Energy Advancement Act

HR 5631 establishes a Geothermal Ombudsman within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to streamline permitting for geothermal energy projects on public lands. The ombudsman, appointed within 60 days of enactment, acts as a liaison between BLM offices and project applicants, resolves disputes, monitors permit timelines, and develops best practices for the permitting process. The bill also creates a Geothermal Permitting Task Force led by the ombudsman, which can assign cross-office personnel (with retention allowances up to 25% of pay) to support geothermal authorizations without altering BLM's jurisdiction. The ombudsman must submit annual reports to Congress on the task force's effectiveness and permit processing outcomes. This directly affects geothermal project applicants and BLM field offices handling geothermal permits.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyStreamlines permitting for geothermal energy projects, advancing renewable energy infrastructure development on public lands.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes geothermal energy development, a clean energy source that reduces emissions and supports environmental sustainability through streamlined permitting.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2026

S 1981: Strategic Grazing to Reduce Risk of Wildfire Act

This bill requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to develop a strategy within 18 months for using livestock grazing to reduce wildfire risks on federal lands. The strategy must include targeted grazing in high-risk areas (like the wildland-urban interface), controlling invasive grasses such as cheatgrass, and using technologies like virtual fencing to adjust grazing placement. It affects federal land managers, ranchers with grazing permits, and communities in fire-prone regions by integrating grazing into wildfire management plans. The bill does not change existing grazing programs but adds specific provisions for risk reduction during droughts, wildfires, or post-fire recovery. It mandates consultation with states, tribes, firefighting agencies, and local stakeholders to coordinate this approach.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes wildfire risk reduction through strategic grazing, which helps control invasive species and protects natural resources on federal lands.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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passed · United States · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 2768: Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026

HR 2768, the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025, requires the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study within one year of enactment to determine if the 287-mile Benton MacKaye Trail - which runs through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, traversing national forests, wilderness areas, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - should be designated as a National Scenic Trail. The study must evaluate the trail’s suitability for this designation, considering its current use, maintenance, economic benefits to rural communities, and existing federal land management. This bill does not change the trail’s status but sets a process to assess its potential future designation under the National Trails System Act.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes conservation by studying designation of a scenic trail through wilderness areas and national forests, protecting natural resources and environmental integrity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Public Lands

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 15, 2025

S 3478: Indian Buffalo Management Act

This bill authorizes the U.S. Department of the Interior to provide funding, contracts, and technical assistance to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations for buffalo restoration and management on tribal lands. It requires the Department to consult with tribes on buffalo-related initiatives and allows tribes to receive surplus buffalo from federal land without cost. The law supports tribes in using buffalo for cultural preservation, subsistence, and economic development through programs like meat processing and habitat management. It explicitly protects tribal treaty rights and mandates that all actions align with tribal laws and management plans.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes federal funding for tribal buffalo programs, allocating resources for cultural and economic development through government spending.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes buffalo restoration and conservation on tribal lands, supporting natural resource management and cultural preservation through federal funding and technical assistance.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Tags Tribal Nations

Track

in committee · United States · House May 15, 2025

HR 3451: To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study whether the Bonneville Shoreline Trail should be officially designated as part of the National Trails System. The study will assess the feasibility of designating this 280-mile trail system, which follows the historic shoreline of ancient Lake Bonneville from the Idaho-Utah border to Nephi, Utah. The bill does not create the trail or change current management but requires a federal evaluation to inform future decisions. This study would determine if the trail meets criteria for formal designation under the National Trails System Act.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directs study on designating a national trail along historic shoreline, promoting conservation and preservation of natural resources.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Mar 11, 2025

HR 1820: FLASH Act

The FLASH Act authorizes construction of navigable roads along federal border lands to improve U.S. Customs and Border Protection access and operational control. It requires federal agencies to develop protocols for reducing trash accumulation and environmental degradation from unauthorized border crossings, while targeting illegal cannabis cultivation sites with environmental response initiatives. The bill prohibits using federal funds to provide housing for undocumented immigrants on federal lands and establishes criminal penalties for illegal pesticide use. The legislation affects how federal land management agencies (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, etc.) operate along the southern border, with specific reporting requirements for environmental impacts and trash collection.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill requires protocols to reduce trash accumulation and environmental degradation from unauthorized border crossings, and targets illegal cannabis cultivation sites with environmental response initiatives.65% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits federal funds for undocumented immigrant housing and enhances border enforcement infrastructure per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes construction of navigable border roads for CBP access, directly advancing transportation infrastructure through road development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Public Lands Waste Management Border Security

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