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Congress·In Committee·about 1 year ago

Big Cypress National Preserve: Ban on Wilderness Designation

Legislative Progress

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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.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 11, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Feb 11, 2025

Introduced in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

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.

Bill NumberHR 1192
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(18)
D: 2R: 16

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