Mike Lee (R-UT)
A bill to authorize the use of off-highway vehicles in certain areas of the Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 702.
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 seeks to authorize the use of off-highway vehicles in specific areas of Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. It defines "covered road" as various portions of specific roads located within the park boundaries. The bill establishes that the definition of an "off-highway vehicle" follows the meaning provided in Utah state law. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that state law will apply to the operation of motor vehicles, including off-highway vehicles, on these covered roads.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +5
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill explicitly mandates that state law applies to the operation of motor vehicles and off-highway vehicles on the covered roads.
- Scored +4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill facilitates access to specific roads within a major regional park for local residents and recreational users.
- Scored +3
Does this invest in rural communities?
Allowing off-highway vehicle access can support local recreation and movement in rural Utah areas.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
Authorizing off-highway vehicles on specific park roads may increase the environmental impact on the national park's natural resources.
- Scored -2
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill shifts some regulatory control of park roads to state law, which may alter traditional federal public land management strategies.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Application of State Law: By allowing state law to apply to motor vehicles and off-highway vehicles on the specified roads, it brings specific regulatory standards to the covered roads (Section 1(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
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.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill explicitly mandates that state law applies to the operation of motor vehicles and off-highway vehicles on the covered roads.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill facilitates access to specific roads within a major regional park for local residents and recreational users.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Allowing off-highway vehicle access can support local recreation and movement in rural Utah areas. Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill facilitates the use of specific roads within the park for motor vehicles and off-highway vehicles. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Authorizing off-highway vehicles on specific park roads may increase the environmental impact on the national park's natural resources. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill shifts some regulatory control of park roads to state law, which may alter traditional federal public land management strategies.
- 11/12/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 702.
- 9/30/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 12/9/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-238.
- 10/3/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
John CurtisRepublican · Utah