This bill streamlines geothermal exploration on federal lands by defining small-scale "geothermal exploration projects" (e.g., limited drilling with <8 acres disturbance, <180 days duration, and 3-year land restoration). It exempts such projects from major federal environmental reviews under NEPA, requires leaseholders to provide 30-day notice before drilling, and establishes "geothermal leasing priority areas" on eligible federal land. The Secretary must designate these priority areas within 3 years (considering economic viability and transmission access), review them every 5 years, and use programmatic environmental reviews for future leasing. The bill directly affects geothermal leaseholders and federal agencies managing public lands, reducing regulatory hurdles for initial exploration while creating a structured framework for future leasing.
The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025 requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to eliminate helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft use in rounding up wild horses and burros over a two-year phase-out period. It mandates that any remaining aircraft used for these operations must have cameras recording the process, with footage made public in BLM reports. The bill addresses findings that helicopter roundups cost taxpayers over $69.5 million since 2012 and that the BLM spends less than 1% of its budget on fertility controls - a more humane, cost-effective alternative. The legislation also directs the Government Accountability Office to report on humane alternatives, job opportunities, and aircraft impacts on horse populations within one year of enactment.
Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act This act expands the boundaries of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area in Clark County, Nevada, and grants rights-of-way through the conservation area and other land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the construction of a water transmission pipeline and related facilities. Specifically, the act requires the BLM to grant certain rights-of-way to the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) for the purposes of (1) performing geotechnical investigations within the rights-of-way, and (2) constructing and operating a water pipeline and related facilities. The rights-of-way may not be located through or under areas designated as wilderness, and construction of the pipeline may not permanently adversely affect surface resources within the conservation area. The BLM may place other reasonable terms and conditions on the issuance of rights-of-way as necessary to protect the conservation area’s resources. In tunneling the water pipeline, SNWA may excavate and dispose of sand, gravel, minerals, and other materials as needed. The BLM must enter into a memorandum of understanding with SNWA to identify federal land on which SNWA may dispose of such materials. The act also adds approximately 9,290 acres of land to the conservation area. This expansion of the conservation area is subject to valid existing rights (e.g., utility transmission rights), must not preclude authorized activities within existing rights-of-way or corridors, and must not preclude the BLM from authorizing new utility rights-of-way.
La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act This act directs the Department of the Interior, after receiving a request from La Paz County, Arizona, to convey approximately 3,400 acres of identified land managed by the Bureau of Land Management to the county for fair market value. Interior must exclude from the conveyance any federal land that contains significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational resources. As a condition of the conveyance, La Paz County and any subsequent owner must make good faith efforts to avoid disturbing tribal artifacts; minimize impacts on tribal artifacts if they are disturbed; coordinate with the Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Historic Preservation Office to identify artifacts of cultural and historic significance; and allow tribal representatives to rebury unearthed artifacts at, or near, where they were discovered. The federal land is withdrawn from the operation of U.S. mining and mineral leasing laws, and thus the land is not available for new mining claims, new mineral or geothermal leases, nor sales of mineral materials. The county must pay all costs related to the conveyance.
HR 2580, the Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River Act, designates a specific restored segment of the Kissimmee River in Florida (from 16 miles downstream of Lake Kissimmee to 15 miles upstream of Lake Okeechobee) as a protected "recreational river" under federal law. This designation directly affects the river segment and its surrounding federal lands by removing them from activities like mining, mineral leasing, and public land disposal, while preserving existing rights. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer the protected river segment. This act formalizes the river's protected status to conserve its natural and recreational value.
HR 2301 sets new national goals for renewable energy production on Federal land, increasing the target from 25% to 60% by 2030. The bill establishes "priority areas" for wind, solar, and geothermal projects on public land and streamlines permitting by allowing delegation to State Renewable Energy Coordination Offices. It creates a revenue-sharing system where 25% of project revenues go to the state, 25% to counties, and 35% (increasing to 40% after 2045) to a Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund that supports habitat restoration and recreational access. The bill affects renewable energy developers, Federal land managers, states, counties, and communities near renewable energy projects, while requiring updates to environmental impact statements and balancing development with conservation of wildlife, cultural resources, and other land uses.
This bill designates five new wilderness areas in Wyoming (Encampment River Canyon, Prospect Mountain, Upper Sweetwater Canyon, Lower Sweetwater Canyon, and Bobcat Draw) and releases 17 wilderness study areas from study status. It establishes a Dubois Badlands National Conservation Area and seven Special Management Areas to protect natural resources while allowing for managed recreation. The bill includes provisions for fire management, grazing administration, and restrictions on motorized vehicle use in designated areas. It also requires studies on developing new motorized recreation areas in Fremont County and Hot Springs/Washakie Counties.
This bill amends the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to increase flexibility for farmers and ranchers. It creates continuous enrollment for wildlife habitat practices, allows emergency haying during droughts/floods under specific conditions (like D2 drought designation), expands cost-sharing for grazing infrastructure (fencing, water systems), and raises the rental payment limit from $50,000 to $125,000 per year. These changes directly affect CRP participants managing land for conservation, wildlife, and grazing. The bill focuses on practical adjustments to program rules without altering core conservation goals.
The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to increase the use of prescribed fire (deliberately set fires to manage wildland fuels) on federal lands. It requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to increase prescribed fire acreage by 10% annually on federal lands, and establishes a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program to fund projects meeting specific ecological and collaborative criteria. The bill also addresses liability for prescribed fire managers, streamlines environmental reviews, and creates a national education program to improve public understanding of prescribed fire. It requires annual reporting on prescribed fire activities and landscape-scale prescribed fire plans for national forests and Bureau of Land Management districts.
This bill adds specific land to the Talladega National Forest, as shown on a map dated September 6, 2024. The Secretary of Agriculture can acquire this land using existing federal land acquisition tools (like the Weeks Law) from willing sellers, using donated or appropriated funds. The newly acquired land will be managed as part of the National Forest System under standard federal rules. It directly affects the Talladega National Forest's boundaries and potential landowners in the designated area.
