Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

Senate BillS 3720Public Lands and Natural Resources

Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act

INTRO JAN 28· LAST ACTION JAN 28

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WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

Voters should care about this bill because it's a step towards potentially elevating and preserving a significant natural and recreational resource in a major urban area. If the Bay Area Ridge Trail becomes a National Scenic Trail, it could boost tourism, strengthen conservation efforts, and improve access to outdoor recreation for millions of people. This designation could lead to better maintenance, more complete sections of the trail, and greater protection for the scenic and ecological areas it traverses, enhancing public enjoyment and environmental health.

If this bill passes, it means an official federal study will gather important information for future decisions about the trail's status. If it doesn't pass, the Bay Area Ridge Trail would continue as a regional trail without the possibility of national recognition, and the associated federal support or heightened conservation efforts would be less likely. This decision impacts the long-term vision for open spaces and public recreational access in one of the country's most densely populated regions.

KEY PROVISIONS

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PROVISION 01

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on whether the Bay Area Ridge Trail should be designated as a National Scenic Trail.

This initiates the official process to evaluate the trail for potential national recognition.

PROVISION 02

Requires the study to be completed and submitted to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment.

This sets a clear and relatively swift deadline for the crucial assessment.

PROVISION 03

Mandates that the study be conducted in consultation with interested organizations, including the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, and relevant federal and state land-managing agencies.

This ensures that local expertise and the perspectives of key stakeholders are incorporated into the study.

PROVISION 04

Formally adds the Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail as a specific trail to be studied under the existing National Trails System Act.

This integrates the evaluation of this trail into the established framework for considering national trail designations.

SPONSORSHIP

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ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

JAN 28

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

JAN 28

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeSenate Bill

NumberS 3720

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedJan 28, 2026

Last actionJan 28, 2026

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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 28, 2026

Senate BillS 3720Public Lands and Natural Resources

Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act

INTRODUCED JAN 28, 2026· LAST ACTION JAN 28, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

—

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on whether the Bay Area Ridge Trail should be designated as a National Scenic Trail.

This initiates the official process to evaluate the trail for potential national recognition.

med

Requires the study to be completed and submitted to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment.

This sets a clear and relatively swift deadline for the crucial assessment.

med

Mandates that the study be conducted in consultation with interested organizations, including the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, and relevant federal and state land-managing agencies.

This ensures that local expertise and the perspectives of key stakeholders are incorporated into the study.

low

Formally adds the Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail as a specific trail to be studied under the existing National Trails System Act.

This integrates the evaluation of this trail into the established framework for considering national trail designations.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph

The Secretary of the Interior must complete and submit the feasibility study to Congress.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

National Scenic Trail: A special long-distance trail designated by Congress for its outstanding scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities, often managed by federal agencies to promote enjoyment and preservation.
Feasibility Study: An evaluation to determine if a proposed project or plan is practical and achievable, often examining costs, benefits, and potential challenges before a decision is made.
Secretary of the Interior: The head of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the federal department responsible for managing and conserving most federal land and natural resources, including national parks and wildlife refuges.
National Trails System Act: A federal law that created a system of national trails, including scenic, historic, and recreation trails, to promote their preservation, public access, and enjoyment across the United States.
Amend: To make changes or additions to an existing law, document, or piece of legislation.
Consultation: The process of formally discussing something with individuals, groups, or agencies to seek their advice, opinions, or agreement before making a decision.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

JAN 28

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

JAN 28

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

INTROREFERRAL

READER REACTIONS

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Committee Referrals

Energy and Natural Resources CommitteeReferred

Jan 28, 2026

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Related Hearings

Business meeting to consider S.365 and H.R.1729, bills to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to allow for additional entities to be eligible to complete the maintenance work on Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate within the Holy Cross Wilderness, Colorado, S.764, to provide for the designation of certain wilderness areas, recreation management areas, and conservation areas in the State of Colorado, S.791, to establish the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site in the State of Maryland as an affiliated area of the National Park System, S.888, to designate certain land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in the State of Oregon as wilderness and national recreation areas, to withdraw certain land located in Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon, from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws, S.945, to amend the Smith River National Recreation Area Act to include certain additions to the Smith River National Recreation Area, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain wild rivers in the State of Oregon, S.1005, to provide for conservation and economic development in the State of Nevada, S.1088, to provide that the memorial to commemorate the sacrifice and service of the women who worked on the home front to support the efforts of the United States military during World War II may be located on the National Mall, S.1195, to promote conservation, improve public land management, and provide for sensible development in Pershing County, Nevada, S.1257, to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to authorize the use of funds for certain additional Carey Act projects, S.1341, to amend the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 to add certain land to the Sarvis Creek Wilderness, S.1349, to withdraw the National Forest System land in the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the National Wildlife Refuge System land in Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Elko and White Pine Counties, Nevada, from operation under the mineral leasing laws, S.1476, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of the Gila River system in the State of New Mexico as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of New Mexico, S.1737, to designate and expand wilderness areas in Olympic National Forest in the State of Washington, and to designate certain rivers in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park as wild and scenic rivers, S.1777, to amend the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 to expand the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park, to redesignate the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park as the "Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center", S.1870, to adjust the boundary of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley Corridor, S.2498, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend certain leases within units of the National Park System without opening the lease to bidding, S.2767 and H.R.5254, bills to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events in Gateway Arch National Park buildings, S.2801, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the Canterbury Shaker Village National Heritage Area, S.2887, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Route 66 National Historic Trail, S.2933, to redesignate a playground in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in the State of West Virginia as the "Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer", S.2968, to ensure access to certain public land, S.3194, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land in California as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area, S.3313 and H.R.6365, bills to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way for an emergency exit on certain National Park Service land in the State of Virginia, S.3409, to reaffirm that the Bureau of Reclamation retains exclusive ownership, operational control, and financial responsibility for the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel, ensuring long-term conservation of the endangered pallid sturgeon and other native aquatic species in the Yellowstone River while protecting the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project and District from undue financial and operational burdens, S.3635 and H.R. 7250, bills to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000, S.3715 and H.R.6380, bills to establish the Chiricahua N

Energy and Natural Resources Committee (senate)Jul 29, 2026

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Hearings to examine S.1674, to modify the boundary of the Mammoth Cave National Park in the State of Kentucky, S.2498, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend certain leases within units of the National Park System without opening the lease to bidding, S.2767 and H.R.5254, bills to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events in Gateway Arch National Park buildings, S.2801, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the Canterbury Shaker Village National Heritage Area, S.2887, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Route 66 National Historic Trail, S.2933, to redesignate a playground in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in the State of West Virginia as the "Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer", S.2969, to amend title 54, United States Code, to provide that State law shall apply to the use of motor vehicles on roads within a System unit, S.3131, to provide for the inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall of the names of the lost crew members of the USS Frank E. Evans killed on June 3, 1969, S.3194, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land in California as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area, S.3313 and H.R.6365, bills to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way for an emergency exit on certain National Park Service land in the State of Virginia, S.3371, to designate the Museum of the Blind People's Movement in Baltimore, Maryland, as the "National Museum of the Blind People's Movement", S.3456 and H.R.183, bills to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for a free annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for law enforcement officers and firefighters, S.3501, to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to designate as a component of the National Heritage Area System the Calumet National Heritage Area in the States of Indiana and Illinois, S.3524, to amend title 54, United States Code, to modify certain cost-sharing requirements for grant programs under the American Battlefield Protection Program, S.3542, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Upper Raritan River Watershed in the State of New Jersey for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, S.3720, to amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bay Area Ridge as a national scenic trail, S.3785, to authorize direct emergency acquisition flexibilities for the National Park Service and Forest Service for the purpose of retaining, vetting, approving, and expediting contractor approval for the clearing, rebuilding, maintenance, and improvement of areas of the Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest damaged by certain wildfires, S.3925, to establish the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park, S.4238, to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to designate as a component of the National Heritage Area System the Endless Mountains National Heritage Area in the State of Pennsylvania, S.4399, to provide for certain conveyances under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, S.4538, to amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating Washington's Trail-1753 as a national historic trail, S.4595, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Mullica River watershed in New Jersey for study for potential designation as a wild and scenic river, S.4767, to extend the authorization of the African American Civil Rights Network, H.R.2306, to reauthorize the Adams Memorial Commission, H.R.5729, to authorize direct emergency acquisition flexibilities for the National Park Service for the purpose of retaining, vetting, approving, and expediting contractor approval for the clearing, rebuilding, maintenance, and improvement of the Grand Canyon grounds that have been impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire, and H.R.7618, to amend title 54, United States Code, to modify certain cost-sharing requirements for grant programs under the American Battlefield Protection Program.

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Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Related Hearings