February 4, 2026
Mr. Arrington (for himself and Mr. Ezell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To require the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to provide an opportunity for public notice and comment with respect to land protection plans.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Transparency in Federal Land Acquisitions Act
.
Sec. 2. Notice and comment for land protection plans
(a) In general
Notwithstanding section 553(a) of title 5, United States Code, when preparing a land protection plan, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall—
(1)
not less than 60 days before the date on which the land protection plan is finalized, publish the proposed land protection plan in the Federal Register; and
(2)
after the publication required by paragraph (1), give interested persons an opportunity to comment on the draft land protection plan through submission of written data, views, or arguments.
(b) Exception
Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a land protection plan for a proposed expansion to a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System if such expansion is comprised of a total acreage less than the greater of the following:
(1)
50 acres.
(2)
15 percent of the total acreage of the unit.