To amend title 54, United States Code, to prohibit the acquisition of land, water, or an interest in land or water from a private landowner using amounts made available under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Bill Number: H.R. 841
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Last Updated: 2025-06-26T17:32:13Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill aims to restrict the use of federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) by prohibiting states from using these funds to buy land, water, or related interests from private landowners. The LWCF is a federal program that provides money for outdoor recreation and conservation projects.

Key Provisions

Acquisition Ban for States: Adds a new subsection to Section 200305 of Title 54, U.S. Code, stating that states receiving financial assistance from the Secretary of the Interior cannot use it to acquire land, water, or interests in them from private landowners.
Federal Fund Restriction: Amends Section 200306(b) of Title 54, U.S. Code, to explicitly prohibit using LWCF appropriations for acquisitions from private landowners, building on existing rules about economic benefits.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Previously, LWCF funds could be used by states for various land acquisitions, including from private owners, as long as they met program guidelines. This bill introduces a direct prohibition on such uses, narrowing the scope of allowable expenditures and closing a potential loophole for state-level purchases.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Federal agencies like the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) may face reduced flexibility in expanding protected areas through state partnerships, potentially slowing conservation efforts that involve private land.
Citizens: Private landowners gain protection against involuntary or incentivized sales to states using federal funds, preserving property rights and local control over land use.
International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic conservation funding.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Private Landowners: Benefit from safeguards against federal fund-driven acquisitions.
State Governments: Lose a funding option for conservation projects, requiring alternative sources for land purchases.
Federal Agencies (e.g., NPS, DOI): Experience limitations on how LWCF grants are applied, affecting program administration.
Conservation and Recreation Groups: May see delays or reduced scope in projects aimed at creating parks or trails on former private lands.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens statutory limits on federal spending under the LWCF, potentially leading to more litigation over what qualifies as a "private landowner" acquisition (e.g., voluntary sales vs. eminent domain, where the government can take private property for public use with compensation under the Fifth Amendment).
Constitutional: Aligns with property rights protections by limiting federal influence on private holdings, though it does not alter eminent domain powers.
Political: Could appeal to advocates of limited government intervention in land ownership, while drawing opposition from environmental groups seeking to expand public lands; it reflects debates over federal vs. state roles in conservation.

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]

Recent Actions

2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
2025-01-31: Introduced in House
2025-01-31: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

To amend title 54, United States Code, to prohibit the acquisition of land, water, or an interest in land or water from a private landowner using amounts made available under the Land and Water Conservation Fund. — issued 2025-01-31 — PDF (2 pages)