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S 4557118th CongressFailed / ExpiredSenate

A bill to authorize the use of off-highway vehicles in certain areas of the Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.

Policy Area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
View on Congress.gov
Origin Chamber
Senate
Last Updated
Mar 24, 2026
Latest Action Date
Jun 17, 2024

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Official Summary

Official summary has not been imported yet.

GovScope Watchdog™

AI Government Intelligence™
Executive Summary

This Senate bill, introduced in the 118th Congress, proposes to authorize the use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in certain areas of Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. The bill aims to modify existing regulations to permit OHV access in designated park zones, potentially expanding recreational opportunities. The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources but ultimately failed or expired without further legislative action. No official summary or full text is available to provide detailed provisions or specific areas affected.

Bottom Line

The bill sought to allow off-highway vehicle use in parts of Capitol Reef National Park but did not advance beyond committee referral and expired without enactment.

Policy Risk Level
🟡 Medium
Neutral Risk Assessment
Key Points
  • The bill authorizes off-highway vehicle use in specified areas within Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.
  • It was introduced in the Senate during the 118th Congress and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  • The bill did not progress past committee referral and is classified as failed or expired as of the latest update.
Who Benefits?

['Recreational off-highway vehicle users seeking access to Capitol Reef National Park', 'Tourism and outdoor recreation businesses in Utah', 'National Park Service as the managing agency for Capitol Reef National Park']

Potential Concerns

['Implementation challenges related to managing OHV use in protected park areas', 'Potential environmental impacts on natural resources and park ecosystems', 'Oversight and enforcement responsibilities for regulating OHV activities within the park', 'Lack of detailed provisions or impact assessments due to unavailable full bill text']

Political Context

The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, a common legislative step for public lands and natural resources matters. The failure to advance suggests limited legislative momentum or competing priorities within the 118th Congress. The policy area aligns with ongoing debates about balancing recreational access and conservation in national parks.

Hidden Impact Review

Hidden impact flags detected: 2

GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.

2 Detected
Detected Flags
Indirect Effects

['Increased visitation and tourism in Capitol Reef National Park due to expanded recreational opportunities.', 'Potential strain on park infrastructure and natural resources from higher OHV traffic.', 'Possible shifts in local economic activity benefiting businesses catering to OHV users.']

GovScope Watchdog Notes

The absence of an official summary and full bill text limits comprehensive analysis. Transparency would be improved by providing detailed provisions, environmental assessments, and enforcement plans. Monitoring the implementation of such authorizations is critical to balance recreational use with conservation mandates.

Passage Likelihood: LowConfidence: 75%Model: gpt-4.1-mini

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