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Management of Federal Eastern Lands Act of 2026

Original title: Text of Senate Amendment 6074

June 24, 2026

Public LandsForest ServiceLand ConveyanceWilderness DesignationConservationInfrastructure

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The Frame

What this does

This legislation changes the ownership, management, and public access rights for thousands of acres of federal forest land across Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Scenic Rivers Development Alliance

The Alliance is authorized to receive title to 310.7 acres of National Forest land in Mississippi.

Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC

The company is authorized to exchange 36.7 acres of private land for 17.5 acres of federal land in Minnesota.

Deli, Inc.

The business is authorized to exchange land with the State of Wisconsin to resolve reversionary interest issues in Black River State Forest.

Perry County, Arkansas

The county is eligible to receive 0.81 acres of federal property for public use purposes.

What changed

Last recorded activity June 24, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This amendment to the 2027 defense appropriations bill authorizes several land management actions across the U.S., including land conveyances, wilderness designations, and trail feasibility studies. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer specific federal forest lands to state or local entities, establishes new wilderness and special management areas, and sets terms for land exchanges and memorials on national forest property.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this bill close existing roads in the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area?
No, the bill explicitly states that the establishment of the area shall not result in the closure of any existing National Forest System roads or modify public access.
Who pays for the costs of these land conveyances?
In most cases, the recipient of the land (such as the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance, Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC, or Perry County) is responsible for all appraisal, survey, and closing costs.
Can I still hunt in the new Special Management Areas in Illinois?
Yes, hunting is permitted in accordance with State of Illinois regulations, though trapping is prohibited and motor vehicle access for hunters is restricted.

Why It Matters

This legislation changes the ownership, management, and public access rights for thousands of acres of federal forest land across Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, Georgia, and North Carolina.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Waiver of Environmental Reviews

The bill includes multiple provisions that explicitly waive requirements for environmental reviews, appraisals, or surveys under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for specific land conveyances.

Secretary of Agriculture

Connected Entities

organizationPerry County, Arkansas“Designated recipient of Forest Service property in Perryville.”Map →
organizationDeli, Inc.“Party to the Black River State Forest land exchange.”Map →
personMs. Klobuchar“Lead sponsor of the amendment.”Map →
organizationScenic Rivers Development Alliance“Designated recipient of land in Franklin County, Mississippi.”Map →
personMr. Tillis“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →
organizationBig Winnie Land and Timber, LLC“Party to the Lake Winnibigoshish land exchange.”Map →
organizationSecretary of Agriculture“Responsible for executing land conveyances and management plans.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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