HR 841119th CongressIn Committee

To amend title 54, United States Code, to prohibit the acquisition of land, water, or an interest in land or water from a private landowner using amounts made available under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Introduced: Jan 31, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would tighten how the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) can be used by states. It amends Title 54 of the U.S. Code to prohibit a state that receives LWCF financial assistance from using those funds to acquire land, water, or any interest in land or water from a private landowner. A conforming amendment similarly clarifies that LWCF appropriations may not be used for such acquisitions from private landowners. In short, states could not use LWCF dollars to buy private property; acquisitions would still be allowed from non-private sources (e.g., public entities), but not from private landowners.

Key Points

1Prohibition on private-owner acquisitions: LWCF funds may not be used by states to acquire land, water, or any interest in land or water from a private landowner.
2Scope of restriction: Applies to acquisitions from private landowners regardless of the form of ownership or type of property right (fee simple, easements, etc.).
3Conforming amendment: The bill adds a clarifying sentence to the related LWCF provision stating that appropriations from the Fund may not be used for acquisition from a private landowner.
4Public-source acquisitions unaffected? The text targets private landowners; acquisitions from public entities or other non-private sellers could still proceed under LWCF, subject to existing rules.
5Purpose and policy intent: The measure seeks to ensure LWCF support does not directly fund private land purchases, potentially shifting the focus of LWCF investments toward government entities, public access, or other non-private acquisition mechanisms.

Impact Areas

Primary: States and state-level agencies that administer LWCF-funded programs (the primary beneficiaries and compliance recipients).Secondary: Private landowners who might otherwise consider selling property to receive LWCF-supported funding, and local communities relying on LWCF-financed private-land acquisitions for parks or conservation projects.Additional impacts:- State planning and project delivery may need adjustment to avoid private-land purchases with LWCF funds, possibly delaying or altering conservation projects.- Potential shift toward using LWCF funds for acquisitions from public entities or for other authorized uses, or seeking alternative funding sources for private-land purchases.- Administrative and reporting changes to ensure compliance, including review of project plans and vendor/seller eligibility in LWCF grant applications.

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