February 25, 2026
Ms. Hageman (for herself, Mr. Downing, Ms. Maloy, Mr. Stauber, and Mr. Tiffany) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To provide that the final rule titled Special Areas; Roadless
Area Conservation
and issued on January 12, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 3244) shall have no
force or effect and require the Secretary of Agriculture to construct certain roads on
National Forest System lands, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Requirement for construction of certain roads on National Forest System lands
(a) Roadless Rule nullification
(1) Nullification
The final rule of the Department of Agriculture titled Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation
and issued on January 12, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 3244) shall have no force or effect.
(2) Prohibition
The Secretary of Agriculture may not take any action to propose, finalize, implement, administer, or enforce any rule substantially similar to the rule described in paragraph (1).
(b) Required road construction
The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall, subject to all applicable environmental requirements (including applicable requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)), construct on National Forest System lands such permanent and temporary roads as the Secretary determines necessary—
(1)
to carry out restoration activities of the Forest Service;
(2)
to carry out hazardous fuels reduction activities of the Forest Service in—
(A)
an at-risk community;
(B)
the wildland-urban interface; or
(C)
a municipal watershed;
(3)
to replace or decommission any existing permanent road determined by the Secretary to be adversely affecting the health of a forest, rangeland, or a watershed; or
(4)
to carry out the intent of the Act of June 4, 1897 (16 U.S.C. 473–482, 551).
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) At-risk community; wildland-urban interface
The terms at-risk community and wildland-urban interface have the meanings given such terms, respectively, in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).
(2) National Forest System
The term National Forest System has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609).