Public Lands Integrity Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
- Committees
- Budget Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Apr 30, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to protect federal lands from being sold or transferred through the budget reconciliation process by subjecting such provisions to a higher procedural hurdle in the Senate.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to expand the definition of what constitutes an "extraneous" matter under the Byrd Rule. Specifically, it designates any provision that results in the sale, disposal, or transfer of Federal lands as extraneous. This change means such provisions, if included in a budget reconciliation bill, would be subject to a 60-vote threshold in the Senate to waive a point of order, making it significantly harder to pass them with a simple majority.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue this bill safeguards public lands from being privatized or transferred without broad bipartisan consensus, ensuring that significant changes to federal land ownership require more than a simple majority vote. They contend it upholds the public trust in federal land management and prevents such provisions from being included in fast-tracked budget bills, thereby preserving these lands for future generations and public use.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that this bill unnecessarily restricts Congress's ability to manage federal lands efficiently, potentially hindering efforts to streamline land management or dispose of lands deemed surplus. They might also contend it adds another layer of procedural complexity to an already intricate legislative process, making it harder to achieve policy goals related to land use or to generate revenue from federal assets when deemed appropriate.
The bill text is extremely short and can be read in under a minute, making it highly accessible for quick evaluation.
Section 2
Designating Federal Land Sales as Extraneous Under the Byrd Rule
This provision amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, specifically Section 313(b)(1), which defines what constitutes an "extraneous" matter under the Byrd Rule. It adds a new criterion, stating that any provision leading to the sale, disposal, or transfer of Federal lands will now be considered extraneous. This means such provisions, if included in a budget reconciliation bill, would be subject to a point of order in the Senate, requiring 60 votes to waive, effectively preventing their passage with a simple majority.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision is crucial for protecting public lands from being sold off or transferred without sufficient debate and consensus. By requiring a 60-vote threshold in the Senate, it ensures that decisions regarding federal land ownership are not made through the expedited, simple-majority process of budget reconciliation, thereby preserving these lands for future generations and public use.
Critics contend
Critics might contend that this provision unduly restricts Congress's flexibility in managing federal assets. They could argue that in certain circumstances, the sale or transfer of federal lands might be a necessary or efficient policy choice, and this amendment would make such actions excessively difficult, even when there is a clear budgetary or public benefit.
Tradeoffs
The bill balances the desire for efficient legislative processes (reconciliation) against the need for broad consensus on significant policy changes, particularly those affecting federal land ownership. It trades legislative speed for increased procedural safeguards for public lands.