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Shenandoah Mountain Act

USA119th CongressS-1681| Senate 
| Updated: 10/27/2025
Tim Kaine

Tim Kaine

Democratic Senator

Virginia

Cosponsors (1)
Mark R. Warner (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill establishes the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMSNA) in Virginia, covering approximately 92,562 acres of National Forest System land within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Its core purposes are to protect the area's scenic quality , water resources , and natural characteristics , including vital wildlife habitat for species like the Cow Knob salamander. The SMSNA also aims to preserve potential old-growth forests and enhance existing recreational opportunities in a sustainable manner. The SMSNA will be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, generally following National Forest System laws, while Wilderness Areas within it will adhere to the Wilderness Act. The bill clarifies that no protective buffer zones are created around the SMSNA or its Wilderness Areas. Existing authorized recreational uses are to continue or improve, and the Secretary must develop a National Forest System trail plan within two years to promote sustainable nonmotorized recreation. Key land use provisions include a prohibition on new road construction and timber harvesting, with limited exceptions for public safety, fire control, and insect/disease management. The legislation also withdraws federal land within the SMSNA from new mining, mineral leasing, and certain energy developments. A comprehensive management plan for the SMSNA, consistent with the bill's provisions, must be developed as an amendment to the existing forest land management plan. The bill further designates five new Wilderness Areas within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, totaling approximately 33,837 acres. These include the Skidmore Fork Wilderness, a Ramseys Draft Wilderness Addition, the Lynn Hollow Wilderness, the Little River Wilderness, and the Beech Lick Knob Wilderness. The Secretary is required to file detailed maps and boundary descriptions for both the National Scenic Area and these newly designated Wilderness Areas.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3911
Shenandoah Mountain Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2630
Shenandoah Mountain Act
May 8, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 8, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Oct 21, 2025
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Oct 27, 2025
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman without amendment. Without written report.
Oct 27, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3911
    Shenandoah Mountain Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2630
    Shenandoah Mountain Act


  • May 8, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 8, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


  • October 21, 2025
    Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • October 27, 2025
    Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman without amendment. Without written report.


  • October 27, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Congressional oversightFiresForests, forestry, treesGeography and mappingLand use and conservationParks, recreation areas, trailsPest managementVirginiaWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Shenandoah Mountain Act

USA119th CongressS-1681| Senate 
| Updated: 10/27/2025
This bill establishes the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMSNA) in Virginia, covering approximately 92,562 acres of National Forest System land within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Its core purposes are to protect the area's scenic quality , water resources , and natural characteristics , including vital wildlife habitat for species like the Cow Knob salamander. The SMSNA also aims to preserve potential old-growth forests and enhance existing recreational opportunities in a sustainable manner. The SMSNA will be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, generally following National Forest System laws, while Wilderness Areas within it will adhere to the Wilderness Act. The bill clarifies that no protective buffer zones are created around the SMSNA or its Wilderness Areas. Existing authorized recreational uses are to continue or improve, and the Secretary must develop a National Forest System trail plan within two years to promote sustainable nonmotorized recreation. Key land use provisions include a prohibition on new road construction and timber harvesting, with limited exceptions for public safety, fire control, and insect/disease management. The legislation also withdraws federal land within the SMSNA from new mining, mineral leasing, and certain energy developments. A comprehensive management plan for the SMSNA, consistent with the bill's provisions, must be developed as an amendment to the existing forest land management plan. The bill further designates five new Wilderness Areas within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, totaling approximately 33,837 acres. These include the Skidmore Fork Wilderness, a Ramseys Draft Wilderness Addition, the Lynn Hollow Wilderness, the Little River Wilderness, and the Beech Lick Knob Wilderness. The Secretary is required to file detailed maps and boundary descriptions for both the National Scenic Area and these newly designated Wilderness Areas.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3911
Shenandoah Mountain Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2630
Shenandoah Mountain Act
May 8, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 8, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Oct 21, 2025
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Oct 27, 2025
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman without amendment. Without written report.
Oct 27, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3911
    Shenandoah Mountain Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2630
    Shenandoah Mountain Act


  • May 8, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 8, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


  • October 21, 2025
    Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • October 27, 2025
    Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman without amendment. Without written report.


  • October 27, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.
Tim Kaine

Tim Kaine

Democratic Senator

Virginia

Cosponsors (1)
Mark R. Warner (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightFiresForests, forestry, treesGeography and mappingLand use and conservationParks, recreation areas, trailsPest managementVirginiaWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats