# 119-s-681: Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2025

119-s-681, Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] (R-WY); status introduced (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-681
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-681
- Congress: 119
- Title: Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-20
- Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] (R-WY)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**This bill would create multiple new protected areas and detailed management rules for federal lands in Wyoming, including wilderness areas, a Dubois National Conservation Area, and special management areas.** It also releases selected Wilderness Study Areas for new management and requires a study of potential motorized recreation areas in two counties. - Outdoor users and local counties: Establishes the Dubois National Conservation Area of about 4,446 acres and a Dubois Motorized Recreation Area of about 368 acres. The bill limits motorized use in the NCA to existing routes and requires travel management plans and a two year study for new motorized areas in Hot Springs and Washakie Counties. - Ranchers and grazing permit holders: Grazing where already established would continue and be managed under the Wilderness Act and applicable land management law. - Energy and mining interests: Many areas would be withdrawn from mining, mineral, and geothermal leasing and from new wind and solar rights of way. Oil and gas activity would be allowed only by directional drilling from leases outside the protected areas and without surface occupancy. - Conservation, wildlife, and land managers: Adds several wilderness areas (for example, Encampment River Canyon at about 4,524 acres and Bobcat Draw at about 6,247 acres) and creates SMAs focused on habitat, forest health, watershed, and scenic protection, with travel plans required within two years.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY] (R-WY), 2025-02-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Changes to wilderness study lands and use: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would remove section 603(c) wilderness study protections for many named study areas that are not made wilderness by this bill. For released lands, the Secretary must manage them under FLPMA and land‑use plans. For Bobcat Draw released land, a travel plan is required within two…
- Dubois Badlands conservation and motorized area: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would create the Dubois Badlands National Conservation Area of about 4,446 acres and a 368‑acre Dubois Motorized Recreation Area. Interior would limit motorized use to roads and trails that existed on the date of enactment, except for administrative and emergency uses. The Secr…
- New rules for Special Management Areas: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would set the same management rules for multiple Special Management Areas. No new permanent roads would be allowed and motorized or mechanized use would be limited to existing designated routes, with travel plans due within two years. Commercial timber harvesting would be prohi…
- New wilderness protections for ranchers and neighbors: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would create several new wilderness areas in Wyoming, including areas of about 6,247 and 1,100 acres. The designations would limit new development and protect scenic, wildlife, and recreational values. The Secretary would finish a fire and forest health plan within 180 days. Gr…

## Related bills

- 119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-4378: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025
- 119-s-140: Wildfire Prevention Act of 2025
- 119-s-135: Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-681 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/681)

## Related
- [119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4952)
- [119-s-4378: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4378)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-292)
- [119-s-140: Wildfire Prevention Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-140)
- [119-s-135: Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-135)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-681 (as of 2026-09-10).