Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

Senate BillS 1195Wildlife conservation and habitat protectionWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act

INTRO MAR 27· LAST ACTION DEC 2

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Passed House

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Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

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This bill matters because it tackles a problem that has made land management in Pershing County, Nevada, very complicated for over a century. The current 'checkerboard' pattern of alternating public and private lands creates inefficiencies, makes it hard to develop economically, and complicates conservation efforts. If this bill becomes law, it will streamline land ownership, potentially boosting the local tax base through land sales and making it easier for both federal agencies and private citizens to manage their property effectively.

Crucially, the bill also protects significant natural areas by adding them to the National Wilderness Preservation System, which means they will be preserved for future generations. Additionally, by transferring land to the Lovelock Paiute Tribe, it addresses historical injustices and supports tribal self-determination, which is a significant step for tribal relations and local governance. Without this bill, the complex checkerboard land issues would likely continue, hindering economic growth and conservation efforts in Pershing County, and opportunities for tribal land trust expansion would remain unaddressed.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Authorizes the sale or exchange of certain federal lands in Pershing County, Nevada, to resolve the complicated "checkerboard" land ownership pattern.

This provision aims to simplify land management for both federal agencies and private landowners, potentially fostering economic development and improving the county's tax base.

PROVISION 02

Designates new areas within Pershing County to be added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.

This ensures the long-term protection and preservation of significant natural landscapes for conservation, wildlife, and limited recreational use.

PROVISION 03

Transfers federal land to be held in trust for the Lovelock Paiute Tribe.

This supports tribal self-governance and economic development, while also recognizing and honoring the tribe's historical and cultural ties to the land.

PROVISION 04

Allows for the sale of federal lands that currently have mining claims, millsites, or tunnel sites (encumbered land), primarily to the current claim owners.

This helps further resolve complex land ownership issues and provides a pathway for existing mining operations to secure their land holdings.

PROVISION 05

Requires that sales of eligible land be conducted through a competitive bidding process, with adjoining landowners offered the first option, and at not less than fair market value.

This ensures transparency, fairness, and that the public receives appropriate value for federal lands being sold.

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ACTION TIMELINE

3 EVENTS

DEC 2

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

COMMITTEE

MAR 27

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

MAR 27

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

INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeSenate Bill

NumberS 1195

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedMar 27, 2025

Last actionDec 2, 2025

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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 27, 2025

Senate BillS 1195Wildlife conservation and habitat protectionWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act

INTRODUCED MAR 27, 2025· LAST ACTION DEC 2, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

25 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Authorizes the sale or exchange of certain federal lands in Pershing County, Nevada, to resolve the complicated "checkerboard" land ownership pattern.

This provision aims to simplify land management for both federal agencies and private landowners, potentially fostering economic development and improving the county's tax base.

high

Designates new areas within Pershing County to be added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.

This ensures the long-term protection and preservation of significant natural landscapes for conservation, wildlife, and limited recreational use.

high

Transfers federal land to be held in trust for the Lovelock Paiute Tribe.

This supports tribal self-governance and economic development, while also recognizing and honoring the tribe's historical and cultural ties to the land.

med

Allows for the sale of federal lands that currently have mining claims, millsites, or tunnel sites (encumbered land), primarily to the current claim owners.

This helps further resolve complex land ownership issues and provides a pathway for existing mining operations to secure their land holdings.

med

Requires that sales of eligible land be conducted through a competitive bidding process, with adjoining landowners offered the first option, and at not less than fair market value.

This ensures transparency, fairness, and that the public receives appropriate value for federal lands being sold.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

The Secretary must offer to exchange all eligible land under this section for private land.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Checkerboard land pattern: A historical land ownership arrangement, often created by railroad land grants, where alternating squares of public and private land are intermingled in a grid-like fashion, making continuous land management difficult.
Eligible land: Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management within a specified area of Pershing County, Nevada, that is identified for potential sale or exchange under this bill.
Encumbered land: Federal land within the identified checkerboard resolution area that has existing mining claims, millsites, or tunnel sites, making its ownership or use more complex.
National Wilderness Preservation System: A system of federally protected wilderness areas in the United States, designated by Congress, where human activity is limited to preserve their natural state.
Trust land: Land held in trust by the U.S. government for the benefit of a Native American tribe or individual, meaning the land is owned by the federal government but managed for tribal use and benefit.
Fair market value: The price that a property would sell for on the open market when both buyer and seller are informed and acting voluntarily, typically determined by a professional appraisal.

ACTION TIMELINE

3 EVENTS

DEC 2, 25

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

COMMITTEE

MAR 27, 25

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

MAR 27, 25

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

INTROREFERRAL

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Committee Referrals

Energy and Natural Resources CommitteeReferred

Mar 27, 2025

senate

Related Hearings

Business meeting to consider S.365 and H.R.1729, bills to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to allow for additional entities to be eligible to complete the maintenance work on Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate within the Holy Cross Wilderness, Colorado, S.764, to provide for the designation of certain wilderness areas, recreation management areas, and conservation areas in the State of Colorado, S.791, to establish the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site in the State of Maryland as an affiliated area of the National Park System, S.888, to designate certain land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in the State of Oregon as wilderness and national recreation areas, to withdraw certain land located in Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon, from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws, S.945, to amend the Smith River National Recreation Area Act to include certain additions to the Smith River National Recreation Area, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain wild rivers in the State of Oregon, S.1005, to provide for conservation and economic development in the State of Nevada, S.1088, to provide that the memorial to commemorate the sacrifice and service of the women who worked on the home front to support the efforts of the United States military during World War II may be located on the National Mall, S.1195, to promote conservation, improve public land management, and provide for sensible development in Pershing County, Nevada, S.1257, to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to authorize the use of funds for certain additional Carey Act projects, S.1341, to amend the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 to add certain land to the Sarvis Creek Wilderness, S.1349, to withdraw the National Forest System land in the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the National Wildlife Refuge System land in Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Elko and White Pine Counties, Nevada, from operation under the mineral leasing laws, S.1476, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of the Gila River system in the State of New Mexico as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of New Mexico, S.1737, to designate and expand wilderness areas in Olympic National Forest in the State of Washington, and to designate certain rivers in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park as wild and scenic rivers, S.1777, to amend the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 to expand the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park, to redesignate the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park as the "Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center", S.1870, to adjust the boundary of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley Corridor, S.2498, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend certain leases within units of the National Park System without opening the lease to bidding, S.2767 and H.R.5254, bills to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events in Gateway Arch National Park buildings, S.2801, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the Canterbury Shaker Village National Heritage Area, S.2887, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Route 66 National Historic Trail, S.2933, to redesignate a playground in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in the State of West Virginia as the "Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer", S.2968, to ensure access to certain public land, S.3194, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land in California as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area, S.3313 and H.R.6365, bills to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way for an emergency exit on certain National Park Service land in the State of Virginia, S.3409, to reaffirm that the Bureau of Reclamation retains exclusive ownership, operational control, and financial responsibility for the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel, ensuring long-term conservation of the endangered pallid sturgeon and other native aquatic species in the Yellowstone River while protecting the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project and District from undue financial and operational burdens, S.3635 and H.R. 7250, bills to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000, S.3715 and H.R.6380, bills to establish the Chiricahua N

Energy and Natural Resources Committee (senate)Jul 29, 2026

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Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act

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WHAT THE BILL DOES

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BILL INFO

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Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

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