Bill · H.R. 1472· House(119-HR-1472)
Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/21/2025
- Last activity
- 2/21/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Harriet Hageman
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2025," redesignates various lands in Wyoming to create specific wilderness areas. It establishes several wilderness areas, a National Conservation Area, a Motorized Recreation Area, and multiple Special Management Areas. The act also provides guidelines for fire management, grazing, and the management of released wilderness study areas. Additionally, it directs studies regarding the potential for new motorized recreation areas in certain counties. Finally, it outlines specific management protocols for various protected lands across the state.
Yes
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+7
The bill designates several wilderness areas and a national conservation area to protect ecological and natural resources.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+4
The bill directs studies to expand motorized off-road vehicle opportunities in rural counties.
Does this invest in rural communities?+3
The bill establishes motorized recreation areas and directs studies for new recreation opportunities in rural counties.
The opposite
Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced?-5
The bill withdraws various lands from mineral and geothermal leasing, including limitations on new oil and gas leases.
Would business owners be better off under this?-4
The bill restricts mineral and geothermal leasing and limits the construction of new permanent roads.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Wilderness Designation: Certain Federal lands will be designated as wilderness areas, such as Encampment River Canyon, Prospect Mountain, Upper Sweetwater Canyon, Lower Sweetwater Canyon, and Bobcat Draw (Section 3).
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Fire and Disease Protection: The Secretary must establish a fire management plan to ensure timely control of fires, diseases, and insects, providing protection to adjacent Federal, State, or private lands (Section 4(b)).
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Conservation of Resources: The establishment of the Dubois Badlands National Conservation Area aims to conserve, protect, and enhance ecological, wildlife, recreational, scenic, cultural, historical, and natural resources (Section 6(b)).
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Motorized Recreation Opportunities: The bill establishes the Dubois Motorized Recreation Area to coordinate the use of motorized off-road vehicles (Section 7(a)).
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Development of New Recreation Areas: The Secretary is directed to study the potential for developing new special motorized recreation areas in Fremont County and in Hot Springs and Washakie Counties (Section 9 and Section 10).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Restrictions on Land Use: The designation of various wilderness and special management areas includes prohibitions on the construction of new permanent roads and certain infrastructure (Section 8).
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Limitations on Mineral and Energy Development: Many designated areas are withdrawn from disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing, and certain areas prohibit new leases for wind or solar projects (Section 5, Section 6, and Section 8).
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Restrictions on Motorized Vehicles: In several designated areas, the use of motorized vehicles is restricted to existing roads and trails (Section 6 and Section 8).
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Changes to Land Management: Portions of wilderness study areas are released from certain protections and will be managed under different provisions (Section 5).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+7Improves Rural Development+3Reduces Fossil Fuel Production-5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Business Owners-4
- 2/21/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.