Legis Daily

Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act

USA119th CongressS-2968| Senate 
| Updated: 2/12/2026
Mike Lee

Mike Lee

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (1)
John R. Curtis (Republican)

Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, known as the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act, seeks to guarantee access to certain public lands for motorized and off-road vehicles. It defines "disability-accessible land" as public land with at least 2.5 miles of authorized road per square mile, and mandates that the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior prioritize updating travel management and motor vehicle use plans. These updates must account for existing roads, prioritize routes offering diverse recreational opportunities, and coordinate with various governmental and tribal entities to ensure public land is disability-accessible. The legislation imposes strict conditions on road closures, particularly on designated disability-accessible land , where closures are generally prohibited unless temporary or posing a direct health or safety threat. For other public lands, agencies must consider reopening previously closed roads and cannot close additional roads unless they pose a direct threat or are not beneficial for wildfire response or search and rescue. Any proposed closure requires public notice, a hearing, and the establishment of a new road within one year, with a rebuttable presumption that roads should remain open for public use. These actions are also categorically excluded from certain environmental review requirements, and the Act permits the development of new roads or trails, except within wilderness areas or most National Park System units.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4553
Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act
Oct 3, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Oct 3, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Feb 12, 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4553
    Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act


  • October 3, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 3, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • February 12, 2026
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Disability and health-based discriminationForests, forestry, treesGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsLand use and conservationMotor vehiclesRoads and highways

Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act

USA119th CongressS-2968| Senate 
| Updated: 2/12/2026
This bill, known as the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act, seeks to guarantee access to certain public lands for motorized and off-road vehicles. It defines "disability-accessible land" as public land with at least 2.5 miles of authorized road per square mile, and mandates that the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior prioritize updating travel management and motor vehicle use plans. These updates must account for existing roads, prioritize routes offering diverse recreational opportunities, and coordinate with various governmental and tribal entities to ensure public land is disability-accessible. The legislation imposes strict conditions on road closures, particularly on designated disability-accessible land , where closures are generally prohibited unless temporary or posing a direct health or safety threat. For other public lands, agencies must consider reopening previously closed roads and cannot close additional roads unless they pose a direct threat or are not beneficial for wildfire response or search and rescue. Any proposed closure requires public notice, a hearing, and the establishment of a new road within one year, with a rebuttable presumption that roads should remain open for public use. These actions are also categorically excluded from certain environmental review requirements, and the Act permits the development of new roads or trails, except within wilderness areas or most National Park System units.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4553
Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act
Oct 3, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Oct 3, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Feb 12, 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4553
    Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act


  • October 3, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 3, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • February 12, 2026
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
Mike Lee

Mike Lee

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (1)
John R. Curtis (Republican)

Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Disability and health-based discriminationForests, forestry, treesGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsLand use and conservationMotor vehiclesRoads and highways