PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large] · R–WY
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.1472 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.1472 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.1472 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.1472 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.
PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-02-21 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
This proposal would designate five Wyoming wilderness areas, release other land from wilderness-study restrictions, and establish separate conservation, recreation and special management areas. It would set rules affecting recreation users, livestock grazers and energy developers, including where vehicles and new roads are allowed. In several areas, oil and gas leasing could be authorized through drilling from outside the protected land, without surface occupancy or disturbance inside.
In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are designated as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
Any portion of a wilderness study area described in subsection (b) that is not designated as a wilderness area by section 3 is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).
there is established the Dubois Badlands National Conservation Area
there is established the Dubois Motorized Recreation Area
The construction of new permanent roads in the Special Management Area shall not be allowed.
Except as needed for administrative purposes, emergency response, fire management, forest health and restoration, weed and pest control, habitat management, livestock management, and range improvement, the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in the Special Management Area shall be allowed only on existing roads and trails designated for the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles.
The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.
The proposed Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2025 uses “Bureau” to mean the Bureau of Land Management and “Secretary” to mean the Secretary of the Interior, unless a provision expressly names another official. Its definition of range improvement comes from an existing law.
This Act may be cited as the Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2025.
(1) Bureau The term Bureau means the Bureau of Land Management. (2) Range improvement The term range improvement has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1902). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
The bill would designate approximately 4,523.84 acres as Encampment River Canyon Wilderness. It would exclude a specified surveyed parcel and land within 100 feet of the centerline of County Road 353 or Water Valley Road.
Certain Federal land administered by the Bureau in the State, comprising approximately 4,523.84 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Encampment River Wilderness and dated December 5, 2023, which shall be known as the Encampment River Canyon Wilderness.
The following land is not included in the Encampment River Canyon Wilderness: (i) Any land in the NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4 sec. 24, T. 14 N., R. 84 W. (ii) Any land within 100 feet of the centerline of— (I) County Road 353; or (II) Water Valley Road.
The bill would designate approximately 1,099.76 acres as Prospect Mountain Wilderness, excluding land within 100 feet of Prospect Road's centerline.
Certain Federal land administered by the Bureau in the State, comprising approximately 1,099.76 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Prospect Mountain Wilderness and dated December 8, 2023, which shall be known as the Prospect Mountain Wilderness. (B) Excluded land Any land within 100 feet of the centerline of Prospect Road is not included in the Prospect Mountain Wilderness.
The bill would designate approximately 2,877.35 acres as Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness and 5,665.19 acres as Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness. Their boundaries would generally follow the existing study area, with the facing boundaries set 100 feet from the respective edges of Strawberry Creek Road.
comprising approximately 2,877.35 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness and dated December 6, 2023, which shall be known as the Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness.
Except as provided in clause (ii), the boundary of the Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness shall conform to the boundary of the Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area. (ii) Eastern boundary The eastern boundary of the Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness shall be 100 feet from the western edge of the north-south road bisecting the Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness and the Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness, known as Strawberry Creek Road.
comprising approximately 5,665.19 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness and dated December 5, 2023, which shall be known as the Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness.
Except as provided in clause (ii), the boundary of the Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness shall conform to the boundary of the Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area. (ii) Western boundary The western boundary of the Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness shall be 100 feet from the eastern edge of the north-south road bisecting the Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness and the Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness, known as Strawberry Creek Road.
The Sweetwater designations would also exclude specified legal routes with authorized motorized use existing at enactment. The two exclusion clauses give different township numbers for the Upper Sweetwater route: T. 28 N. in one clause and T. 29 N. in the other.
Any established legal route with authorized motorized use in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that enters the Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness in T. 28 N., R. 98 W., sec. 4, or the Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness in T. 29 N., R. 97 W., sec. 33, is not included in the Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness.
Any established legal route with authorized motorized use in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that enters the Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness in T. 29 N., R. 98 W., sec. 4, or the Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness in T. 29 N., R. 97 W., sec. 33, is not included in the Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness.
The bill would designate approximately 6,246.84 acres of Bureau of Land Management land as Bobcat Draw Wilderness.
Bobcat Draw Wilderness Certain Federal land administered by the Bureau in the State, comprising approximately 6,246.84 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Bobcat Draw Wilderness and dated December 8, 2023, which shall be known as the Bobcat Draw Wilderness.
The Interior Secretary would administer the five wilderness areas under this bill and the Wilderness Act, subject to valid existing rights. For that administration, references in the Wilderness Act to its effective date and the Agriculture Secretary would instead refer to this bill's enactment date and the Interior Secretary.
Subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall administer the wilderness areas in accordance with this section and the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that— (1) any reference in that Act to the effective date of that Act shall be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary.
The Interior Secretary could undertake necessary fire, insect and disease control in the wilderness areas under the cited Wilderness Act provision, coordinating with Wyoming's Forestry Division and the relevant county. A fire management plan would be due within 180 days after enactment, including protection for adjacent land to the maximum extent practicable.
The Secretary may carry out any activities in a wilderness area as are necessary for the control of fire, insects, or disease in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)).
the Secretary shall coordinate with— (A) the Wyoming Forestry Division; and (B) the applicable county in the State in which the wilderness area is located.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a fire management plan for the wilderness areas— (A) to ensure the timely and efficient control of fires, diseases, and insects in the wilderness areas, in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)); and (B) to provide, to the maximum extent practicable, adequate protection from forest fires, disease outbreaks, and insect infestations to any Federal, State, or private land adjacent to the wilderness areas.
Livestock grazing established before enactment in the wilderness areas would be administered under specified Wilderness Act provisions and congressional guidelines. Section 4 would create no surrounding buffer zone, and an outside activity could not be barred merely because it could be seen or heard inside a wilderness area.
The grazing of livestock in a wilderness area, if established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be administered in accordance with— (1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)); and (2) the guidelines set forth in Appendix A of House Report 101–405, accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress, for land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.
Nothing in this section establishes a protective perimeter or buffer zone around a wilderness area. (2) Outside activities or uses The fact that a nonwilderness activity or use can be seen or heard from within a wilderness area shall not preclude the activity or use outside the boundary of the wilderness area.
For portions not designated wilderness by section 3, the bill would declare wilderness study adequate and remove the application of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. This would cover the 17 listed study-area entries; the Bobcat Draw entry is limited to its Washakie County portion. Released land would remain governed by other applicable law, land management plans and the bill's special rules.
Congress finds that, for purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), any portion of a wilderness study area described in subsection (b) that is not designated as a wilderness area by section 3 has been adequately studied for wilderness designation.
(1) The Encampment River Canyon Wilderness Study Area. (2) The Prospect Mountain Wilderness Study Area. (3) The Bennett Mountains Wilderness Study Area. (4) The Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area. (5) The Lankin Dome Wilderness Study Area. (6) The Split Rock Wilderness Study Area. (7) The Savage Peak Wilderness Study Area. (8) The Miller Springs Wilderness Study Area. (9) The Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area. (10) The Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area. (11) The Whiskey Mountain Wilderness Study Area. (12) The Fortification Creek Wilderness Study Area. (13) The Gardner Mountain Wilderness Study Area. (14) The North Fork Wilderness Study Area. (15) The portion of the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area located in Washakie County, Wyoming. (16) The Cedar Mountain Wilderness Study Area. (17) The Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area.
Any portion of a wilderness study area described in subsection (b) that is not designated as a wilderness area by section 3 is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).
The Secretary shall manage the portions of the wilderness study areas released under subsection (c) in accordance with— (A) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); (B) applicable land management plans; (C) applicable management provisions under paragraph (2); and (D) any other applicable law.
Released Bennett Mountains land would follow section 8(a)'s special management rules. At Dubois Badlands, the Interior Secretary would authorize installation, repair or relocation of a dividing fence along a specified route following existing infrastructure and natural barriers. Released Dubois land would also follow the conservation and recreation provisions in sections 6 and 7.
The Secretary shall manage the portion of the Bennett Mountains Wilderness Study Area released under subsection (c) in accordance with section 8(a).
The Secretary shall divide the land within the Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area by authorizing the installation of a fence or the repair or relocation of an existing fence in T. 41 N., R. 106 W., sec. 5, that— (I) follows existing infrastructure and natural barriers;
The Secretary shall manage the portion of the Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area released under subsection (c) in accordance with— (I) paragraph (1); and (II) sections 6 and 7.
On released Copper Mountain land, the Interior Secretary could lease oil and gas only through directional drilling from an outside lease, with an unwaivable prohibition on surface occupancy and disturbance inside. Underground rights-of-way could be granted for those leases. Subject to valid rights existing at enactment, new leases for wind or solar projects, overhead transmission lines or communication towers would be prohibited. Land exchanges could not cause a net loss of federal land.
The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the land released from the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c) if— (aa) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the land released from the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area; and (bb) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance on the land released from the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area for any activities, including activities relating to exploration, development, or production.
The Secretary may grant underground rights-of-way for any mineral lease entered into under subclause (I).
Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall not issue a new lease for a wind or solar project, an overhead transmission line, or a communication tower on the land released from the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c).
In carrying out any land exchange involving any of the land released from the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c), the Secretary shall ensure that the exchange does not result in a net loss of Federal land.
Released Whiskey Mountain land would be managed under the bill's general management requirements and the Whiskey Mountain Cooperative Agreement, including amendments concerning bighorn sheep management.
The Secretary shall manage the portion of the Whiskey Mountain Wilderness Study Area released under subsection (c) in accordance with— (i) paragraph (1); and (ii) the Whiskey Mountain Cooperative Agreement between the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, the Forest Service, and the Bureau, including any amendment to that agreement relating to the management of bighorn sheep.
For released Bobcat Draw land, a travel management plan would be due within two years after enactment. It would identify existing roads and trails, designate those available for motorized or mechanized recreation or agricultural practices, prohibit new roads and trails for motorized or mechanized recreation, and allow continued use of nonmotorized trails.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a travel management plan for the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c).
The travel management plan under subclause (I) shall— (aa) identify all existing roads and trails on the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c); (bb) designate each road or trail available for— (AA) motorized or mechanized recreation; or (BB) agriculture practices; (cc) prohibit the construction of any new road or trail for motorized or mechanized recreation use; and (dd) permit the continued use of nonmotorized trails.
Subject to valid rights existing at enactment, released Bobcat Draw land would generally be withdrawn from appropriation or disposal under public-land laws, location, entry and patent under mining laws, and disposition under mineral and geothermal leasing laws. An exception would allow oil and gas leasing through directional drilling from an outside lease, with no exceptions or waivers permitting surface occupancy or disturbance inside.
Except as provided in subclause (II), subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c) is withdrawn from— (aa) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (bb) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (cc) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.
The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c) if— (aa) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area; and (bb) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance on the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.
The bill would establish the approximately 4,446.46-acre Dubois Badlands National Conservation Area, subject to valid existing rights. Its stated purpose would be to conserve, protect and enhance ecological, wildlife, recreational, scenic, cultural, historical and natural resources for present and future generations. The Interior Secretary could allow only uses determined to further that purpose, subject to rights existing at enactment.
Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Dubois Badlands National Conservation Area (referred to in this section as the Conservation Area), comprising approximately 4,446.46 acres of Federal land administered by the Bureau in the State
The purpose of the Conservation Area is to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological, wildlife, recreational, scenic, cultural, historical, and natural resources of the Area.
Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall manage the Conservation Area— (1) in a manner that only allows uses of the Conservation Area that the Secretary determines would further the purpose of the Conservation Area described in subsection (b)
Motorized vehicles in the Dubois conservation area would be limited to existing roads, trails and areas designated for them as of enactment, with possible administrative and emergency exceptions. Grazing would follow generally applicable Bureau of Land Management laws. Subject to valid rights existing at enactment, the area would be withdrawn from appropriation or disposal under public-land laws, location, entry and patent under mining laws, and disposition under mineral and geothermal leasing laws.
The use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation Area shall be permitted only on existing roads, trails, and areas designated by the Secretary for use by such vehicles as of the date of enactment of this Act. (2) Exceptions The Secretary may allow the use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation Area as needed for administrative purposes and emergency response.
Grazing of livestock in the Conservation Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau.
Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Conservation Area is withdrawn from— (1) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.
The bill would establish the approximately 367.72-acre Dubois Motorized Recreation Area, subject to valid existing rights. The Interior Secretary would authorize a western boundary fence on qualifying Bureau of Land Management land west of North Mountain View Road. A plan coordinating motorized off-road vehicle use would follow as soon as practicable after fence completion.
Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Dubois Motorized Recreation Area (referred to in this section as the Recreation Area), comprising approximately 367.72 acres of Federal land administered by the Bureau in the State
The Secretary shall authorize the construction of a fence along the western boundary of the Recreation Area on any Federal land that— (A) is managed by the Bureau; and (B) is west of North Mountain View Road.
As soon as practicable after the date of completion of the fence described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish a travel management plan for the Recreation Area that efficiently coordinates the use of motorized off-road vehicles in the Recreation Area.
Subject to valid existing rights, the bill would establish the approximately 6,165.05-acre Bennett Mountains Special Management Area under the Interior Secretary and the approximately 1,178-acre Black Cat Special Management Area in Carbon County under the Agriculture Secretary. Their stated purposes concern natural, historic, scenic and recreational values.
Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Bennett Mountains Special Management Area (referred to in this subsection as the Special Management Area), comprising approximately 6,165.05 acres of Federal land in the State administered by the Bureau
(2) Administration The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Secretary. (3) Purpose The purpose of the Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational, values of the area.
Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Black Cat Special Management Area (referred to in this subsection as the Special Management Area), comprising approximately 1,178 acres of Federal land in Carbon County, Wyoming
(2) Administration The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. (3) Purpose The purpose of the Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational values of the area.
Subject to valid existing rights, the bill would establish the approximately 34,347.79-acre Sweetwater Rocks Special Management Area in Fremont and Natrona Counties. The Interior Secretary would administer it to further its stated natural, historic, scenic and recreational purposes.
Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Sweetwater Rocks Special Management Area (referred to in this subsection as the Special Management Area), comprising approximately 34,347.79 acres of Federal land in Fremont and Natrona Counties, Wyoming
(2) Administration The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Secretary. (3) Purpose The purpose of the Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational, values of the area. (4) Management (A) In general The Secretary shall manage the Special Management Area— (i) in furtherance of the purpose described in paragraph (3)
Subject to valid existing rights, the bill would establish three more special management areas: Fortification Creek, approximately 12,520.69 acres; Fraker Mountain, approximately 6,248.28 acres; and North Fork, approximately 10,026.15 acres. The Interior Secretary would administer them, with stated purposes including wildlife habitat, forest health, watershed protection and cultural values.
Subject to valid existing rights there are established the following: (A) The Fortification Creek Special Management Area, comprising approximately 12,520.69 acres of Federal land administered in the State by the Bureau, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Fortification Creek Management Area and dated November 15, 2023. (B) The Fraker Mountain Special Management Area, comprising approximately 6,248.28 acres of Federal land administered in the State by the Bureau, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Fraker Mountain Management Area and dated November 15, 2023. (C) The North Fork Special Management Area, comprising approximately 10,026.15 acres of Federal land administered in the State by the Bureau, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed North Fork Management Area and dated November 15, 2023.
(3) Administration The Special Management Areas shall be administered by the Secretary. (4) Purpose The purpose of a Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, recreational, wildlife habitat, forest health, watershed protection, and ecological and cultural values of the area.
Subject to valid existing rights, the bill would establish the approximately 20,745.73-acre Cedar Mountain Special Management Area under the Interior Secretary. Its stated purposes would include livestock production alongside natural, historic, scenic, recreational, ecological and wildlife values.
Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Cedar Mountain Special Management Area (referred to in this subsection as the Special Management Area), comprising approximately 20,745.73 acres of Federal land in the State administered by the Bureau
(2) Administration The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Secretary. (3) Purpose The purpose of the Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, recreational, ecological, wildlife, and livestock production values of the area.
All seven special management areas would prohibit new permanent roads. Motorized and mechanized vehicles would generally be limited to existing designated roads and trails, with exceptions for administration, emergencies, fire management, forest health and restoration, weed and pest control, habitat management, livestock management and range improvement. Travel management plans would be due within two years after enactment, prepared by the Agriculture Secretary for Black Cat and the Interior Secretary for the other areas.
The construction of new permanent roads in the Special Management Area shall not be allowed. (ii) Motorized vehicles Except as needed for administrative purposes, emergency response, fire management, forest health and restoration, weed and pest control, habitat management, livestock management, and range improvement, the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in the Special Management Area shall be allowed only on existing roads and trails designated for the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a travel management plan for the Special Management Area.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a travel management plan for the Special Management Area.
The construction of new permanent roads in a Special Management Area shall not be allowed. (ii) Motorized vehicles Except as needed for administrative purposes, emergency response, fire management, forest health and restoration, weed and pest control, habitat management, livestock management, and range improvement, the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in a Special Management Area shall be allowed only on existing roads and trails designated for the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles. (iii) Travel management plan Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a travel management plan for each Special Management Area.
Grazing in the special management areas would follow the generally applicable laws for the managing federal land agency, including National Forest System grazing laws at Black Cat. Bennett Mountains and Black Cat would prohibit commercial timber harvesting. Fraker Mountain and North Fork would prohibit development, construction or installation of recreational infrastructure.
Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau. (D) Timber harvesting Commercial timber harvesting shall not be allowed in the Special Management Area.
Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to grazing on National Forest System land. (D) Timber harvesting Commercial timber harvesting shall not be allowed in the Special Management Area.
Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to the Bureau.
Grazing of livestock in a Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau.
The development, construction, or installation of infrastructure for recreational use shall not be allowed in— (i) the Fraker Mountain Special Management Area; or (ii) the North Fork Special Management Area.
Subject to valid existing rights, all seven special management areas would generally be withdrawn from appropriation or disposal under public-land laws, location, entry and patent under mining laws, and disposition under mineral and geothermal leasing laws. Each would have an oil and gas exception: leases could be accessed only by directional drilling from an outside lease and must prohibit surface occupancy and disturbance inside, without exception or waiver. Black Cat leasing would also require the Agriculture Secretary's approval.
Subject to valid existing rights and subparagraph (B), the Special Management Area is withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.
The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.
The Secretary may, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.
Subject to valid existing rights and subparagraph (B), the Special Management Areas are withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. (B) Exception The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of a Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.
Subject to valid existing rights, the Special Management Area is withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.
Sweetwater Rocks would prohibit new overhead transmission or communications towers and, subject to rights existing at enactment, withdraw land from right-of-way leasing and disposition under wind and solar energy laws. The Interior Secretary could exchange land with nearby owners if access increased and there were no net loss of federal land. Existing underground rights-of-way could be expanded despite the area's withdrawal provisions.
No new overhead transmission or communications tower shall be constructed in the Special Management Area.
The Secretary may propose to, and carry out with, an individual or entity owning land in the vicinity of the Special Management Area any land exchange that— (i) increases access to the Special Management Area; and (ii) does not result in a net loss of Federal land.
Notwithstanding paragraph (5), the Secretary may expand any underground right-of-way in the Special Management Area that exists as of the date of enactment of this Act.
Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Special Management Area is withdrawn from right-of-way leasing and disposition under laws relating to wind or solar energy.
The Interior Secretary would have to pursue exchanges of Bureau of Land Management land in Fremont County for Wyoming-owned land within the Lander Slope or Red Canyon Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. Exchanges would have to satisfy legal requirements and any required analysis, and would be subject to appropriation.
In this section, the term County means Fremont County, Wyoming.
The Secretary shall pursue transfers in which land managed by the Bureau in the County is exchanged for land owned by the State that is within the boundaries of— (A) the Lander Slope Area of Critical Environmental Concern; or (B) the Red Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern.
A transfer under paragraph (1) shall— (A) comply with all requirements of law, including any required analysis; and (B) be subject to appropriation.
The Interior Secretary would study potential special motorized recreation areas on Bureau of Land Management land in Fremont County. The study would exclude specified surveyed land and land where federal law restricts off-road vehicles. It would consider vehicle suitability, including rock crawlers, and needed parking, staging and camping. A report to the named Senate and House committees would be due within two years after enactment.
The Secretary shall carry out a study to evaluate the potential for the development of special motorized recreation areas in the County.
The study under paragraph (1) shall evaluate— (A) the potential for the development of special motorized recreation areas on all land managed by the Bureau in the County except— (i) any land in T. 40 N., R. 94 W., secs. 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, and the N1⁄2 sec. 34; and (ii) any land that is subject to a restriction on the use of off-road vehicles under any Federal law, including this Act; (B) the suitability of the land evaluated under subparagraph (A) for off-road vehicles, including rock crawlers; and (C) the parking, staging, and camping necessary to accommodate special motorized recreation.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the findings of the study under paragraph (1).
Within 90 days after enactment, the Interior Secretary would establish a Fremont County Implementation Team to advise and assist with section 9's county land-management requirements. Membership would include the Secretary or a designee and one or more people appointed by the county commissioners. The team would be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act's requirements; the supplied source does not reproduce those requirements.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a team, to be known as the Fremont County Implementation Team (referred to in this subsection as the Team) to advise and assist the Secretary with respect to the implementation of the management requirements described in this section that are applicable to land in the County.
The Team shall consist of— (A) the Secretary (or a designee of the Secretary); and (B) 1 or more individuals appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of the County.
The Team shall not be subject to the requirements of chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Federal Advisory Committee Act).
The Interior Secretary would also study potential new special motorized recreation areas on Bureau of Land Management land in Hot Springs and Washakie Counties, excluding land subject to federal motorized or mechanized vehicle restrictions. The study would require public-input opportunities and collaboration with the counties and state parks, historic sites and trails. A report to the named congressional committees would be due within two years after enactment.
the term Counties means each of the following counties in the State: (1) Hot Springs County. (2) Washakie County.
The Secretary shall carry out a study to evaluate the potential for the development of new special motorized recreation areas in the Counties.
The study under paragraph (1) shall evaluate the potential for the development of new special motorized recreation areas on Federal land managed by the Bureau in the Counties except any land that is subject to a restriction on the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles under any Federal law, including this Act.
the Secretary shall— (i) offer opportunities for public input; and (ii) collaborate with— (I) State parks, historic sites, and trails; and (II) the Counties.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the findings of the study under paragraph (1).
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated December 5, 2025, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Natural Resources on February 21, 2025. This snapshot does not establish subsequent legislative action or enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2025-12-05T22:49:06Z. 2025-02-21: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. 2025-02-21: Introduced in House 2025-02-21: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-02-21. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No provision unrelated to the bill's public-land designation and management subject was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish attachment history or absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials; formal earmark status cannot be established from the supplied source set.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
Narrow resource-use exceptions and a tailored advisory-body exemption warrant scrutiny under this category. Classification does not establish improper purpose.
Prospective oil and gas lessees would receive an exception to the broader mineral-leasing withdrawal on released Bobcat Draw land. Leasing could occur only through directional drilling from an outside lease, with an unwaivable prohibition on surface occupancy and disturbance inside.
Except as provided in subclause (II), subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c) is withdrawn from— (aa) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (bb) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (cc) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.
The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c) if— (aa) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area; and (bb) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance on the land released from the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.
Prospective oil and gas lessees would also receive exceptions to mineral-leasing withdrawals in the seven special management areas. Directional drilling from an outside lease and unwaivable prohibitions on surface occupancy and disturbance inside would be required; Black Cat leases would additionally require the Agriculture Secretary's approval. These discretionary exceptions provide a limited development opportunity within the bill's broader land-protection rules.
Subject to valid existing rights and subparagraph (B), the Special Management Area is withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.
The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.
The Secretary may, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.
Subject to valid existing rights and subparagraph (B), the Special Management Areas are withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. (B) Exception The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of a Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.
Subject to valid existing rights, the Special Management Area is withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.
For released Copper Mountain land, prospective oil and gas lessees could obtain leases and associated underground rights-of-way under specified surface-protection conditions, while new leases for wind, solar and certain above-ground infrastructure would be prohibited, subject to existing rights. This is different treatment of particular development uses within the land-management policy.
The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the land released from the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c) if— (aa) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the land released from the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area; and (bb) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance on the land released from the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area for any activities, including activities relating to exploration, development, or production.
The Secretary may grant underground rights-of-way for any mineral lease entered into under subclause (I).
Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall not issue a new lease for a wind or solar project, an overhead transmission line, or a communication tower on the land released from the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area under subsection (c).
Holders of underground rights-of-way existing at enactment in Sweetwater Rocks could receive expanded rights despite the area's withdrawal provisions. The exception is limited to existing underground rights-of-way and leaves expansion to the Interior Secretary's discretion.
Notwithstanding paragraph (5), the Secretary may expand any underground right-of-way in the Special Management Area that exists as of the date of enactment of this Act.
The Fremont County Implementation Team would receive a specific exemption from Federal Advisory Committee Act requirements in connection with its role advising and assisting the Interior Secretary on section 9's county land-management requirements. This is a tailored statutory exemption for that advisory body. The referenced Act's requirements are not supplied, so the particular obligations waived and their practical effects cannot be established here.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a team, to be known as the Fremont County Implementation Team (referred to in this subsection as the Team) to advise and assist the Secretary with respect to the implementation of the management requirements described in this section that are applicable to land in the County.
The Team shall not be subject to the requirements of chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Federal Advisory Committee Act).
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Dec 5, 2025. How PlainBill uses AI