S 446119th CongressIn Committee

A bill to prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve from being designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.

Introduced: Feb 6, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-Florida)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Senate Bill S.446 would block any designation of Big Cypress National Preserve as wilderness or as a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Introduced by Senator Rick Scott of Florida in February 2025, the measure is currently referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The text consists of a single section: Big Cypress National Preserve may not be designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. If enacted, this would keep Big Cypress in its current management framework (a National Preserve) and prevent a future upgrade to Wilderness status, which would entail stricter protection and more limitations on certain activities.

Key Points

1Prohibits wilderness designation for Big Cypress National Preserve and its inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.
2The bill applies only to Big Cypress National Preserve; it does not address other lands or preserves.
3The text contains only one provision (Section 1) with no accompanying funding, regulatory guidance, or enforcement provisions.
4The sponsor is Senator Scott of Florida; the bill was introduced February 6, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
5By design, the bill seeks to preserve Big Cypress as a National Preserve rather than allowing a transition to Wilderness status, thereby limiting potential future restrictions associated with wilderness designation.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Users and stakeholders of Big Cypress National Preserve (hikers, hunters, anglers, off-road vehicle users, and other recreationists) who rely on the current management framework that permits a broader range of uses than wilderness.Secondary group/area affected:- U.S. National Park Service and state wildlife/agriculture agencies involved in land management and permitting in the Big Cypress area, Florida-based stakeholders, and local tourism economies that depend on outdoor recreation.Additional impacts:- Conservation policy landscape: The bill affects the toolbox of designations available for Big Cypress, potentially limiting future opportunities to pursue stricter protections under the Wilderness Act.- Precedent considerations: If enacted, the bill could influence discussions about wilderness designations in other national preserves or similar areas, shaping federal land management debates.- Legal/administrative: No funding or regulatory changes are included in the bill’s text; enactment would reinforce the preservation of current management status without creating new programs or costs.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 18, 2025