Bills · S 4180
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 4180Public Lands and Natural Resources
Forest Resources Accountability Act
INTRO MAR 24· LAST ACTION MAR 24
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
0
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it directly addresses the balance between private land access and public land conservation. If it passes, a specific section of the White River National Forest would be protected from new year-round road development, preserving critical wildlife habitat and maintaining a more pristine natural environment for current and future generations. This aligns with broader concerns about preserving wilderness areas and ensuring responsible land management amid increasing development pressures.
The bill also highlights the challenges faced by the Forest Service due to staffing shortages, implicitly supporting the idea that the agency should focus its limited resources on essential tasks like wildfire prevention, maintaining trails, and ensuring healthy ecosystems. If this bill does not become law, the proposed year-round road could proceed, potentially altering the character of the protected area, impacting wildlife, and setting a different precedent for development within national forests.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Prohibits the construction or authorization of any new year-round road or utility corridor on specific federal land within the White River National Forest in Colorado.
This directly protects critical winter wildlife habitat and maintains the natural character of a designated area within the national forest.
PROVISION 02
Requires that access to private land within the specified federal area must be limited to existing, unpaved, and seasonal routes, governed by special use permits.
This ensures that necessary access is provided without significantly expanding infrastructure or impacting the protected environment.
PROVISION 03
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to pursue acquiring the 680-acre Berlaimont Estates parcel from a willing seller, coordinating with state and local entities.
This provision aims to resolve the land access issue by bringing the private parcel into public ownership for conservation purposes.
PROVISION 04
States that if acquired, the Berlaimont Estates parcel will be incorporated into the White River National Forest and managed for wildlife conservation and public enjoyment.
This ensures the long-term protection and public benefit of the land if it becomes federally owned.
PROVISION 05
Acknowledges significant Forest Service staffing reductions and the resulting decrease in hazardous fuels reduction and trail maintenance projects.
This highlights the need for the Forest Service to prioritize projects like wildfire risk reduction and trail maintenance given its limited resources.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 0
D· Colorado
YRS IN OFFICE
17
BILLS LED
82
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAR 24
Introduced in Senate
MAR 24
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 4180
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMar 24, 2026
Last actionMar 24, 2026
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 24, 2026
Senate BillS 4180Public Lands and Natural Resources
Forest Resources Accountability Act
INTRODUCED MAR 24, 2026· LAST ACTION MAR 24, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
0
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
