Mike Kennedy (R-UT)
Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act" aims to ensure public land remains accessible. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to prioritize updating travel and motor vehicle use plans. The bill limits the ability of officials to close roads, especially on "disability-accessible land." It also promotes the inclusion of roads that provide access to various recreational activities. Additionally, it establishes a presumption that roads should remain open for public use.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +9
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill's primary focus is ensuring motorized access to public lands for people with disabilities.
- Scored +8
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
The bill specifically protects and prioritizes motorized access to public lands for individuals with disabilities.
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Increases accessibility and preserves roads on public lands often used by rural populations.
The opposite
- Scored -6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill establishes categorical exclusions from the National Environmental Policy Act for certain road actions.
- Scored -3
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill promotes more motorized vehicle use on public lands and reduces environmental review requirements.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Recreational Access: The bill requires officials to prioritize roads that provide access to diverse activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and boating (Section 4(a)(3)).
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Protections for Disability Access: In "disability-accessible land," officials generally cannot close roads if it would result in the land no longer meeting the criteria for being disability-accessible (Section 4(b)(1)(A)).
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Public Input on Road Closures: The bill requires that notice for proposed road closures be provided for public comment and that a public hearing be conducted (Section 4(b)(2)).
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Potential for New Access: The bill requires officials to provide a way for people to nominate new roads to be added to travel plans (Section 4(b)(3)(A)).
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Presumption of Open Access: There is a rebuttable presumption that roads shall remain open for public use unless clear and compelling evidence proves a closure is necessary (Section 4(b)(5)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Reduced Environmental Oversight: Road closures and the establishment of new roads may be categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Section 4(b)(4)).
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Limited Road Closures for Safety: While roads can be closed for health or safety threats, the bill restricts the closure of roads that are beneficial for search and rescue activities, wildfire response, or fuels reduction treatments (Section 4(b)(1)(B)(iii)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill's primary focus is ensuring motorized access to public lands for people with disabilities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Increases accessibility and preserves roads on public lands often used by rural populations. Would gun owners be better off under this? — Increases access to public lands for activities like hunting.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill specifically protects and prioritizes motorized access to public lands for individuals with disabilities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires public notice and hearings for road closures.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill prioritizes the maintenance and opening of roads on public lands. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill restricts the closure of roads beneficial for wildfire response and search and rescue. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — It streamlines the process for updating travel management plans on public lands. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill establishes categorical exclusions from the National Environmental Policy Act for certain road actions. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill promotes more motorized vehicle use on public lands and reduces environmental review requirements.
- 6/30/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- 6/9/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.