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Congress·In Committee·S. 3526

Senators Propose Protecting 1 Million Acres of California Land and Creating Hundreds of Miles of New Trails

PUBLIC Lands Act

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov
Part of: Congress Proposes Major Expansion of California Wilderness and Wildfire Defense

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill would protect over 1 million acres of public land in California by naming them as wilderness or scenic areas. This means these lands would be kept in their natural state, and activities like new mining, road building, and commercial logging would be banned to protect the environment and wildlife.
  • The plan creates a massive new restoration area covering about 871,000 acres in Northern California. The goal is to make these forests healthier and less likely to have dangerous wildfires by clearing out overgrowth and using controlled fires to manage the landscape safely near local communities.
  • Outdoor fans would get several new places to explore, including the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail and new paths for mountain biking. The bill also orders studies for even more trails and authorizes new visitor centers to help people learn about the local plants, animals, and history.
  • A special partnership would be formed to clean up public lands damaged by illegal activities, specifically targeting trash and chemicals left behind by illegal marijuana farms. This group would include federal, state, and local law enforcement working together to fix the soil and water in high-priority areas.
  • The bill ensures that Native American Tribes continue to have access to these lands for traditional and religious ceremonies. It allows for temporary, small-scale closures of certain areas so Tribal members can have privacy during their sacred events without permanently blocking the public.
Energy EnvironmentAgricultureInfrastructure Transportation

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones3 actions
Feb 12, 2026Senate

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Dec 17, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8836)

Dec 17, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

PUBLIC Lands Act

Bill NumberS 3526
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.