Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This bill amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to significantly alter public involvement in rulemaking for federal lands, particularly those managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Its primary goal is to restrict and verify the source of public comments on proposed regulations, ensuring input comes from specific, authenticated sources. A central provision mandates that only public comments received from citizens of the United States may be considered when the Secretary promulgates regulations for Bureau-managed public lands. To further ensure authentic human input, the bill requires the establishment of a CAPTCHA process for all public involvement activities, specifically designed to deter artificial intelligence from submitting comments. The legislation also clarifies that rulemaking must adhere to standard administrative procedures, with existing rules remaining in effect until new ones are formally promulgated.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S4317-4318)
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresDepartment of AgricultureLand use and conservationPublic participation and lobbying
American Voices in Federal Lands Act
USA119th CongressS-2262| Senate
| Updated: 12/17/2025
This bill amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to significantly alter public involvement in rulemaking for federal lands, particularly those managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Its primary goal is to restrict and verify the source of public comments on proposed regulations, ensuring input comes from specific, authenticated sources. A central provision mandates that only public comments received from citizens of the United States may be considered when the Secretary promulgates regulations for Bureau-managed public lands. To further ensure authentic human input, the bill requires the establishment of a CAPTCHA process for all public involvement activities, specifically designed to deter artificial intelligence from submitting comments. The legislation also clarifies that rulemaking must adhere to standard administrative procedures, with existing rules remaining in effect until new ones are formally promulgated.