Historic Roadways Protection Act

Key Points

• This bill stops the Department of the Interior from spending money to finish or start new travel plans for several large areas in Utah. It also blocks the government from carrying out specific plans that have already been made for places like the San Rafael Desert and Gemini Bridges.
• The freeze on these rules would last until dozens of court cases about historic roadways are finished. Utah and many of its counties are currently suing the federal government to prove they own the rights to thousands of miles of old dirt roads and trails.
• People who use public lands for recreation, ranching, or mining would be most affected. If the bill passes, the government cannot close existing trails in these areas until the courts decide who actually owns the roads. This would keep trails open for off-road vehicles and other users for now.
• Supporters say this protects local access to land that has been used for generations. They argue the federal government should not be able to shut down roads while their legal status is still being debated in court.

Impact Analysis

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