Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi, and for other purposes.
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 216.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer specific National Forest System land in Franklin County, Mississippi, to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance. The land totals around 310.7 acres split across two tracts near Okhissa Lake. The Alliance must pay the fair market value for the land in cash and cover related costs like appraisals and surveys. The bill ensures the United States keeps all subsurface mineral, oil, and gas rights, as well as necessary road and trail easements. Additionally, the Alliance must take responsibility for maintaining the Okhissa Lake Dam and complying with dam safety laws.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +3
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill aims to facilitate rural economic development in Franklin County through land conveyance.
- Scored +3
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?
The bill preserves public access via a perpetual 30-foot wide right-of-way for Forest Service Road 149A.
- Scored +2
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides a development alliance with land that can be used for public recreation and related economic purposes.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill exempts the Secretary from complying with the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental laws during the conveyance.
- Scored -2
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill includes a restrictive covenant that prohibits the subdivision of the conveyed land into residential lots.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Funding for National Forest Land: According to Section 1(f), the money received from selling this land will be deposited into a specific fund to be used for acquiring other land and interests for the National Forest System, which benefits the public by helping maintain and grow our national forests.
-
Preservation of Public Access: Under Section 1(e)(3), the United States explicitly keeps easements for public roads and trails, including a 30-foot wide right-of-way over Forest Service Road 149A, ensuring the public can still access Okhissa Lake and the surrounding national forest areas.
-
Protection Against Residential Development: Section 1(e)(6) includes a restrictive covenant that stops the conveyed land from being subdivided into residential lots, which helps keep the area focused on public use rather than private housing developments.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exemption from Environmental Laws: Under Section 1(h), the Secretary of Agriculture is explicitly excused from having to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or any other applicable environmental law when carrying out this land conveyance, meaning the usual environmental reviews won't happen for this sale.
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 in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill aims to facilitate rural economic development in Franklin County through land conveyance. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides a development alliance with land that can be used for public recreation and related economic purposes.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill facilitates the conveyance of land to a development alliance for potential economic activity in Franklin County.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill preserves public access via a perpetual 30-foot wide right-of-way for Forest Service Road 149A. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill exempts the Secretary from complying with the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental laws during the conveyance.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill transfers federal land to a state-based development alliance.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill includes a restrictive covenant that prohibits the subdivision of the conveyed land into residential lots.
- 10/27/2025
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 216.
- 10/21/2025
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 7/24/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Introduced in Senate