Volunteer groups would gain more power to protect and manage national scenic and historic trails.
This bill would give key volunteer groups, like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, more formal power to manage and protect national scenic and historic trails. It would create "Designated Operational Partners" who could help plan land protection, oversee trail plans, and get federal funding. This aims to improve how these trails are preserved and maintained for everyone.
Today, national historic and scenic trails rely on federal agencies and many volunteers, but the volunteer roles aren't always formally defined or funded directly. This bill would change that by creating "Designated Operational Partners," starting with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. These experienced non-profit groups would gain formal authority to help manage, protect land for, and oversee plans for national trails. It would also streamline funding, allow partners to request enforcement of federal property rights, exempt trail management from certain federal advisory rules, and require regular economic impact studies for nearby communities.
HR 5134 · 119th Congress · September 4, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 9/10
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6 filings mentioned this bill
Amounts reflect total quarterly lobbying spend reported to the Senate, not bill-specific spending. Source: Senate LDA filings.