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Public Lands in Public Hands Act

USA119th CongressHR-718| House 
| Updated: 2/28/2025
Ryan K. Zinke

Ryan K. Zinke

Republican Representative

Montana

Cosponsors (15)
Kim Schrier (Democratic)Gabe Vasquez (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Janelle S. Bynum (Democratic)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Troy Downing (Republican)Michael K. Simpson (Republican)Maggie Goodlander (Democratic)Juan Ciscomani (Republican)

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee, Agriculture Committee, Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the "Public Lands in Public Hands Act," establishes a prohibition on the transfer of certain federal lands by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to non-federal entities. This restriction applies to any publicly accessible tract of federal land, defined as land reachable by public road, trail, waterway, easement, or right-of-way, or land contiguous to such a tract. The prohibition also covers federal land contiguous with publicly accessible tracts owned by state, county, or municipal governments. However, several exceptions exist, including transfers of federal land under 300 acres (or 5 acres if waterway accessible) that are authorized by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Additional exemptions are provided for transfers authorized by a list of specific federal laws, such as the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Any transfer explicitly authorized by federal law or completed through a federally authorized land exchange is also exempt, with a clear limitation that federal land cannot be subdivided to meet acreage minimums for these exceptions.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-7430
Public Lands in Public Hands Act
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 23, 2025
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.
Feb 28, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-7430
    Public Lands in Public Hands Act


  • January 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 23, 2025
    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.


  • February 28, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Intergovernmental relationsLand transfers

Public Lands in Public Hands Act

USA119th CongressHR-718| House 
| Updated: 2/28/2025
This bill, titled the "Public Lands in Public Hands Act," establishes a prohibition on the transfer of certain federal lands by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to non-federal entities. This restriction applies to any publicly accessible tract of federal land, defined as land reachable by public road, trail, waterway, easement, or right-of-way, or land contiguous to such a tract. The prohibition also covers federal land contiguous with publicly accessible tracts owned by state, county, or municipal governments. However, several exceptions exist, including transfers of federal land under 300 acres (or 5 acres if waterway accessible) that are authorized by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Additional exemptions are provided for transfers authorized by a list of specific federal laws, such as the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Any transfer explicitly authorized by federal law or completed through a federally authorized land exchange is also exempt, with a clear limitation that federal land cannot be subdivided to meet acreage minimums for these exceptions.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-7430
Public Lands in Public Hands Act
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 23, 2025
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.
Feb 28, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-7430
    Public Lands in Public Hands Act


  • January 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 23, 2025
    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.


  • February 28, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Ryan K. Zinke

Ryan K. Zinke

Republican Representative

Montana

Cosponsors (15)
Kim Schrier (Democratic)Gabe Vasquez (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Janelle S. Bynum (Democratic)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Troy Downing (Republican)Michael K. Simpson (Republican)Maggie Goodlander (Democratic)Juan Ciscomani (Republican)

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee, Agriculture Committee, Natural Resources Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Intergovernmental relationsLand transfers