H.R. 7979

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7979 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7979

To restore the presumption of access on lands managed by the Forest 
Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

_______________________________________________________________________

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Public Lands Access Restoration 
Act''.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.
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