Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
This bill amends the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act to expand the park boundary per an August 2023 map, explicitly include Mt. Tom, Billings Farm (protection zone), and the King Farm.
Liberals emphasize conservation, education, and stewardship institute benefits
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill provides concrete statutory amendments to expand park boundaries, specify acquisition methods, define permitted uses for newly acquired land (King Farm), and establish a National Park Service Stewardship Institute as a program of the park.
This bill amends the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act to expand the park boundary per an August 2023 map, explicitly include Mt.
Tom, Billings Farm (protection zone), and the King Farm.
It updates authorized land-acquisition methods (donation, purchase from willing sellers, federal transfer, exchange), requires reciprocal access rights for King Farm, and permits agricultural, forestry, conservation, and educational uses if the Secretary acquires King Farm.
Narrow, non-controversial scope and built-in concessions (willing-seller purchases, farm uses) raise likelihood absent fiscal or local opposition.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill provides concrete statutory amendments to expand park boundaries, specify acquisition methods, define permitted uses for newly acquired land (King Farm), and establish a National Park Service Stewardship Institute as a program of the park. It integrates with existing law by amending specific U.S.C. sections and referencing dated maps.
Liberals emphasize conservation, education, and stewardship institute benefits
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Liberals emphasize conservation, education, and stewardship institute benefits
Overall supportive.
The expansion protects historic landscapes, preserves working-farm character, and creates a stewardship institute to advance conservation and education.
Concern will focus on ensuring strong public funding and community engagement to implement protections equitably.
Cautiously supportive.
The bill clarifies boundaries, limits acquisition to willing sellers, and balances conservation with ongoing agricultural use.
Main concerns are clear funding, operational responsibilities, and minimizing local disruption.
Skeptical to mixed.
While the bill respects willing-seller acquisitions and preserves working agriculture, it expands federal land holdings and creates a new federal program that may increase bureaucracy and taxpayer costs.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Narrow, non-controversial scope and built-in concessions (willing-seller purchases, farm uses) raise likelihood absent fiscal or local opposition.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberals emphasize conservation, education, and stewardship institute benefits
Narrow, non-controversial scope and built-in concessions (willing-seller purchases, farm uses) raise likelihood absent fiscal or local oppo…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill provides concrete statutory amendments to expand park boundaries, specify acquisition methods, define permitted uses for newly acquired land (King Farm), and establis…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.