S 2968119th CongressIn Committee

Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act

Introduced: Oct 3, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-Utah)

Infrastructure

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act would direct federal land managers (Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, overseeing National Forest System land and Interior lands) to expand and formalize motorized and off-road vehicle access on public land. The bill creates a new concept called “disability-accessible land,” defined by a threshold of road density (at least 2.5 miles of authorized motorized/off-road roads per one square mile). It requires updates to travel management and motor vehicle use plans, and it directs agencies to designate land as open, limited, or closed to off-road vehicles with a strong emphasis on maintaining and expanding access to recreation opportunities. It also provides procedures for road closures, new road designations, and a generalized NEPA exemption for certain closures and new roads, while preserving some existing protections for sensitive areas. In short, the bill aims to broaden motorized access on public land while imposing specific rules to keep that access available, particularly on areas designated as disability-accessible land.

Key Points

1Defines “disability-accessible land” as land where each square mile has at least 2.5 miles of authorized road accessible to motorized or off-road vehicles, and designates the relevant land management agencies (Forest Service and Interior) as the responsible secretaries.
2Requires prioritized updates to travel management plans and motor vehicle use plans, ensuring plans reflect current conditions and access considerations.
3For motor vehicle use maps and land designations, agencies must account for total traversable road length per square mile, prioritize routes that support diverse recreation, and coordinate with federal, state, local, tribal, and other entities to identify desirable routes to keep public land disability-accessible.
4Establishes specific rules for road closures and openings, including a prohibition on closing roads in disability-accessible land if such closures would reduce road access and remove the land’s disability-accessible status, with limited exceptions (temporary needs or direct health/safety threats with proper procedures).
5In non-disability-accessible land, directs consideration of reopening roads closed in the prior decade, limits new road closures unless a direct threat exists and proper coordination is followed, and prohibits closing roads that support fuels reduction, wildfire response, or search and rescue activities.
6Requires notice, public comment, and public hearings for closures (allowing some post-closure comment in emergencies) and provides for nominations of new roads to be added to management plans with a one-year timeline to establish new roads after closure.
7Provides a broad NEPA-related provision: certain road closures or new road establishments can be categorically excluded from NEPA review, subject to regulations about no extraordinary circumstances.
8Includes a rebuttable presumption that roads should remain open, unless clear and compelling evidence shows closure is necessary under the Act.
9Section 5 clarifies the Act does not prohibit creating new roads or trails for motorized use, and does not generally apply to certain protected areas (e.g., National Wilderness System, inventoried roadless areas, congressionally designated primitive areas, or most units of the National Park System, with the exception of National Recreation Areas).

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Public land users who rely on motorized or off-road access for recreation (hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, boating, birdwatching, etc.), including people with mobility needs who would be impacted by road designations and accessibility rules.Secondary group/area affected- Federal land-management agencies (Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management) and the Department of the Interior, which would implement updated plans, manage road networks, and handle closures and openings.- State, local, and tribal governments and communities that interact with federal land management decisions and travel corridors.- Recreation, conservation, and environmental groups with interests in land use, wildlife, and habitats, as well as groups focused on wilderness protections or environmental review processes.Additional impacts- Legal/administrative: introduces new criteria for road designations and NEPA exemptions, with potential implications for environmental review and litigation risk.- Environmental and safety considerations: broadens access to motorized/off-road routes, which could affect wildlife, habitats, wildfire risk management, fuels reduction efforts, and search-and-rescue operations.- Budget and operations: increased emphasis on road inventory, maintenance, monitoring, and coordination across agencies, potentially affecting budgets and staffing.- Equity and accessibility: redefines “disability-accessible land” in terms of road density rather than built-accessibility features, which may raise questions about how well the policy translates to actual accessibility for people with various disabilities.Disability-accessible land hinges on road length per square mile, not on typical accessibility standards (like accessible facilities, trail surfaces, or barrier-free amenities). Interpreting “access” through road density may influence where off-road vehicle access is prioritized.The NEPA-categorical exclusion approach for closures and new roads is a significant procedural shift with potential environmental and community implications; the scope and regulations governing these exclusions would matter for implementation and oversight.The act requires coordination with tribes and other entities to identify recreationally desirable routes, which could enhance collaboration but also raise sensitive issues around tribal lands and cultural resources.

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