Transparency in Federal Land Acquisitions Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7348
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-20T20:26:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Transparency in Federal Land Acquisitions Act," aims to promote public participation and transparency in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) process for developing land protection plans. These plans outline how federal agencies protect lands for conservation, such as wildlife refuges. The bill ensures that the public has a chance to review and provide input before these plans are finalized, overriding certain exemptions in existing federal procedures.
Key Provisions
- Public Notice Requirement: The FWS Director must publish a proposed land protection plan in the Federal Register (a official government publication for announcing proposed rules and actions) at least 60 days before finalizing it.
- Opportunity for Comment: After publication, the FWS must allow interested individuals or groups to submit written comments, data, views, or arguments on the draft plan.
- Exception for Small Expansions: The notice and comment process does not apply to plans for expanding a National Wildlife Refuge System unit if the added land is less than the greater of:
- 50 acres, or
- 15% of the existing unit's total acreage.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill overrides a specific exemption in the Administrative Procedure Act (Section 553(a) of Title 5, U.S. Code), which generally allows federal agencies to skip public notice and comment for certain internal planning or interpretive actions.
- This introduces a mandatory public involvement step for land protection plans, which were previously not always subject to such requirements, making the process more formal and open.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The FWS may face additional administrative burdens, such as preparing publications and reviewing public comments, potentially delaying larger land protection plans by at least 60 days. Smaller expansions remain streamlined to avoid unnecessary delays.
- On Citizens: Increases public access to federal decision-making on land conservation, allowing communities, environmental advocates, and landowners to influence plans that affect local areas, wildlife habitats, or recreation.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic federal land management within the U.S.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): Primary agency responsible for implementing the new requirements.
- Public and Interest Groups: Environmental organizations, hunters, conservationists, local communities, and landowners near proposed protection areas, who gain formal input opportunities.
- National Wildlife Refuge System: Units of this federal network of protected lands may see changes in how expansions are planned, affecting management of over 150 million acres nationwide.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Enhances compliance with broader principles of administrative law by mandating transparency, potentially reducing challenges to FWS decisions on grounds of inadequate public involvement. It does not alter core constitutional rights but aligns with the First Amendment's emphasis on public participation in government.
- Constitutional: Supports due process by ensuring affected parties have notice and a voice, though the exception for small expansions balances efficiency with openness.
- Political: Could foster greater accountability in federal conservation efforts, appealing to those favoring local input on land use, while possibly drawing criticism from agencies or advocates who prefer faster processes for environmental protection.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-02-04: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Transparency in Federal Land Acquisitions Act — issued 2026-02-04 — PDF (2 pages)