To ensure that Big Cypress National Preserve may not be designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Representative Scott Franklin, would stop the federal government from ever labeling Big Cypress National Preserve as a 'wilderness' area. This is a specific legal category that comes with the strictest environmental protections in the country.
• The policy mainly affects people who visit the preserve in Florida for hunting, fishing, and off-road vehicle use. If the area were to become a designated wilderness, many of these activities would likely be banned or restricted to keep the land completely untouched.
• Supporters of the bill want to ensure the land stays open for traditional uses like airboating and swamp buggy tours. They argue that the area's current status as a 'preserve' already protects the environment while still allowing people to enjoy the outdoors in ways that a 'wilderness' label would not allow.
• The bill was introduced in February 2025 and is currently being reviewed by a committee. It does not require new government spending, as it simply sets a permanent rule for how this specific piece of land in Florida can be classified in the future.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.