Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act | ChamberLight
Bills · HR 4924
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 4924Transportation and Public Works
Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act
INTRO AUG 8· LAST ACTION AUG 8
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
6
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
This bill matters to voters because it changes the balance between public access to recreational trails and private property rights. The "Rails-to-Trails" program has been popular for converting unused rail lines into community assets like walking and biking paths. If this bill becomes law, it could make it much more challenging and expensive for communities to create new trails or extend existing ones, potentially slowing down or even halting some projects.
On the other hand, it addresses long-standing concerns from some landowners who feel their property rights are not adequately protected when a former rail line that crosses their land is converted into a public trail. The bill aims to ensure these landowners are informed, compensated fairly, and have a say in how their adjacent property is used. Voters who prioritize property rights and local control may see this as a positive step, while those who prioritize expanding public recreational opportunities might view it as a significant hurdle.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extracted
PROVISION 01
Requires written approval from property owners for new interim recreational trail use on abandoned railroad rights-of-way.
This gives landowners significant control over whether a trail can be established on or next to their property.
PROVISION 02
Mandates compensation to landowners at fair market value for additional costs due to interim trail use, including lost development opportunities and infrastructure movement.
This ensures landowners are financially compensated for perceived burdens or losses associated with a trail on their land.
PROVISION 03
Establishes a 90-day public notice and comment period and a cost-benefit analysis by the Surface Transportation Board before a trail conversion can proceed.
This adds new layers of federal review and public input, making the conversion process more rigorous and transparent.
PROVISION 04
Requires the trail sponsor to maintain the right-of-way in perpetuity or until it returns to active rail service, and demonstrate financial capability for compensation and maintenance.
This places long-term financial responsibility and maintenance obligations firmly on the trail developers.
PROVISION 05
Creates an advisory committee, primarily composed of landowners, to recommend maintenance requirements for trail sponsors.
This gives landowners a direct voice in setting standards for the ongoing care of trails.
This bill matters to voters because it changes the balance between public access to recreational trails and private property rights. The "Rails-to-Trails" program has been popular for converting unused rail lines into community assets like walking and biking paths. If this bill becomes law, it could make it much more challenging and expensive for communities to create new trails or extend existing ones, potentially slowing down or even halting some projects.
On the other hand, it addresses long-standing concerns from some landowners who feel their property rights are not adequately protected when a former rail line that crosses their land is converted into a public trail. The bill aims to ensure these landowners are informed, compensated fairly, and have a say in how their adjacent property is used. Voters who prioritize property rights and local control may see this as a positive step, while those who prioritize expanding public recreational opportunities might view it as a significant hurdle.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Requires written approval from property owners for new interim recreational trail use on abandoned railroad rights-of-way.
This gives landowners significant control over whether a trail can be established on or next to their property.
high
Mandates compensation to landowners at fair market value for additional costs due to interim trail use, including lost development opportunities and infrastructure movement.
This ensures landowners are financially compensated for perceived burdens or losses associated with a trail on their land.
med
Establishes a 90-day public notice and comment period and a cost-benefit analysis by the Surface Transportation Board before a trail conversion can proceed.
This adds new layers of federal review and public input, making the conversion process more rigorous and transparent.
med
Requires the trail sponsor to maintain the right-of-way in perpetuity or until it returns to active rail service, and demonstrate financial capability for compensation and maintenance.
This places long-term financial responsibility and maintenance obligations firmly on the trail developers.
low
Creates an advisory committee, primarily composed of landowners, to recommend maintenance requirements for trail sponsors.
This gives landowners a direct voice in setting standards for the ongoing care of trails.
Trail sponsor must receive signed approval from property owners after intervening in an abandonment proceeding.
not less than 90 days
Surface Transportation Board (STB) public notice and comment period before certification is awarded.
not later than 10 days
STB must carry out a cost-benefit analysis after public comment period is complete.
not later than 60 days after enactment
Secretary of the Interior must appoint members to the advisory committee.
not later than 2 years after enactment
Advisory committee must submit its report to Congress.
GLOSSARY
AI-written
Rails-to-Trails
A program and common term for the conversion of abandoned railroad lines into public recreational trails, often used for walking, biking, and other activities.
Right-of-way
A legal right, established by agreement or easement, to pass over or use another person's land, such as the strip of land a railroad company uses for its tracks.
Surface Transportation Board (STB)
An independent federal agency that regulates freight rail rates and services, and has jurisdiction over the abandonment of railroad lines and their interim use for trails.
Interim recreational use
A temporary use of an abandoned railroad right-of-way for recreational purposes, with the understanding that the corridor could potentially be reactivated for rail service in the future.
Easement
A legal right to use a portion of another person's land for a specific purpose, such as for a trail or utility line, without owning the land itself.
Abandonment proceeding
The formal legal process through which a railroad company seeks permission from the Surface Transportation Board to cease operating a rail line and remove its tracks.
Trail sponsor
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
AUG 8, 25
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
AUG 8, 25
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
A state, local government, or private organization that takes responsibility for developing, managing, and maintaining a recreational trail, particularly one converted from an abandoned railroad line.
