H.R. 7979

119 HR 7979 IH: Public Lands Access Restoration Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-03-18
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 7979  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   March 18, 2026   Mr. Crank  (for himself and  Mr. Kennedy of Utah ) introduced the following bill; which was 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   A BILL
To restore the presumption of access on lands managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Public Lands Access Restoration Act  .
2.
Restoration of Historic Access Policy
(a)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act—
(1)
a covered road or trail shall be presumed to be open to motorized access unless the Secretary concerned restricts motorized access to the covered road or trail in accordance with subsection (b); and
(2)
the Secretary concerned shall issue or revise regulations as necessary to implement paragraph (1).
(b)
Standards for restriction
The Secretary concerned may only restrict motorized access to a covered road or trail if—
(1)
a need for the restriction is identified based on clear and convincing evidence for resource protection or public safety; and
(2)
the restriction is—
(A)
clearly indicated with signage posted at the points on the covered road or trail at which the restriction begins and ends;
(B)
depicted on updated official maps of the covered road or trail, to be made available in both digital and printed form;
(C)
subject to—
(i)
public notice in the Federal Register and at least one local newspaper; and
(ii)
a 30-day comment period;
(D)
reviewed by the Secretary concerned at least once every 5 years to determine if the restriction is still justified; and
(E)
applied to the smallest area, and for the least amount of time, as is practicable.
3.
Public nomination of trails
(a)
Public nominations for motorized routes
The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall accept and consider proposals submitted by the public for additions to designated motorized road and trail networks at any time, including during the development or revision of transportation or travel management plans carried out pursuant to the National Forest Management Act of 1976 ( 16 U.S.C. 472a et seq. ), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. ), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ).
(b)
Eligible nominations
Proposals submitted under subsection (a) may include—
(1)
the designation of new motorized roads or trails;
(2)
the repurposing or conversion of roads or trails; or
(3)
the inclusion of roads or trails not previously identified in agency transportation or travel inventories.
(c)
Consideration priority
In considering proposals under this section, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall give priority to proposals that—
(1)
improve connectivity within existing road or trail networks;
(2)
protect natural resources;
(3)
enhance access for fuels reduction, wildfire response, or other land management activities; or
(4)
provide additional or enhanced opportunities for motorized recreation.
(d)
Expedited review
The Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, shall consider a proposal for the conversion of an administrative or currently closed road to a designated motorized trail as expeditiously as practicable, and not later than 90 days after the date of submission of the proposal.
4.
Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act shall be construed, with respect to a covered road or trail, to restrict or otherwise limit—
(1)
public access (except as described in subsection (b)); or
(2)
other uses.
5.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Covered road or trail
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term  covered road or trail  means a road or trail designated for motorized use that is a—
(i)
a National Forest System road;
(ii)
a National Forest System trail;
(iii)
a Bureau of Land Management road; or
(iv)
a Bureau of Land Management trail.
(B)
Exception
The term  covered road or trail  does not apply to a road or trail within an area within a congressionally designated wilderness area or national park.
(2)
Motorized access
The term  motorized access  means access or use by a motor or self-propelled vehicle capable of off-highway travel during winter or summer including all-terrain vehicles, four-wheelers, three-wheelers, dirt bikes, motorcycles, trail bikes, and snowmobiles.
(3)
National Forest System road
The term  National Forest System road  means a road within a unit of the National Forest System other than a road which has been authorized by a legally documented right-of-way held by a State, county, or other local public road authority.
(4)
National Forest System trail
The term  National Forest System trail  means a trail within a unit of the National Forest System other than a trail which has been authorized by a legally documented right-of-way held by a State, county, or other local public road authority.
(5)
Bureau of Land Management road
The term  Bureau of Land Management road  means a road on public lands other than a road which has been authorized by a legally documented right-of-way held by a State, county, or other local public road authority.
(6)
Bureau of Land Management trail
The term  Bureau of Land Management trail  means a trail on public lands other than a trail which has been authorized by a legally documented right-of-way held by a State, county, or other local public road authority.
(7)
Public lands
The term  public lands  has the meaning given such term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1702 ).
(8)
Secretary concerned
The term  Secretary concerned  means—
(A)
the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to a National Forest System road or National Forest System trail; and
(B)
the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to a Bureau of Land Management road or Bureau of Land Management trail.