Long-Term Good Neighbor Authority Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7951

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-26: Subcommittee Hearings Held

Last Updated

2026-04-22T20:33:34Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Long-Term Good Neighbor Authority Act (H.R. 7951) aims to extend the duration of "Good Neighbor Authority" (GNA) agreements—partnerships between federal agencies and local or tribal governments for forest restoration and recreation projects on federal lands—and include Indian tribes more explicitly in these partnerships.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a):
• Updates definitions to include "Indian tribe" alongside state governors in key areas related to project approvals and authority.
• Authorizes the Secretary (of Agriculture) to enter GNA agreements with governors, Indian tribes, or counties for authorized restoration services (e.g., forest health, wildfire prevention) for terms up to 20 years.
• Makes technical corrections to clarify references and phrasing.
• Amends Section 351 of the EXPLORE Act (16 U.S.C. 8571):
• Authorizes GNA agreements with counties for authorized recreation services (e.g., trail maintenance, recreation infrastructure) for terms up to 20 years.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Extends agreement terms: Prior law limited GNA agreements to shorter durations (typically 10 years or less); this bill increases the maximum to 20 years for both restoration (Agricultural Act) and recreation (EXPLORE Act) projects.
• Expands eligibility: Explicitly adds Indian tribes as eligible partners alongside governors and counties, removing prior ambiguities in definitions.
• Technical fixes: Corrects minor wording and cross-references for clarity, without altering core operations.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: Streamlines long-term forest management for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management by enabling multi-year projects, potentially reducing administrative burdens and improving efficiency in wildfire risk reduction and habitat restoration.
• Citizens and local communities: Enhances local involvement in federal land management, potentially leading to better-maintained recreation areas and safer forests near communities.
• No direct international relations impact.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal agencies: U.S. Department of Agriculture (Forest Service) and potentially Interior (for EXPLORE Act provisions).
• State and local governments: Governors and counties, gaining authority for longer-term projects.
• Indian tribes: Newly emphasized as full partners, expanding their role in federal land stewardship.
• Land users: Recreation enthusiasts, loggers, and environmental groups benefiting from sustained restoration and recreation efforts.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Maintains existing environmental safeguards (e.g., no changes to National Environmental Policy Act reviews); longer terms may encourage stable funding but could face challenges if conditions change mid-term.
• Constitutional: Aligns with federalism by empowering states, localities, and tribes in managing federal lands, without raising sovereignty issues.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Reps. Valadao and Panetta) suggests broad appeal for practical land management; referred to Natural Resources and Agriculture committees for review.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-26: Subcommittee Hearings Held
• 2026-03-19: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
• 2026-03-16: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-03-16: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-03-16: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-16: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Long-Term Good Neighbor Authority Act — issued 2026-03-16 — PDF (3 pages)