Skip to main content
HR 4579 117th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources

Forest Litigation Reform Act of 2021

Introduced: July 20, 2021 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 11, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Aug 4, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
Jul 20, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jul 20, 2021
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Forest Litigation Reform Act of 2021

This bill sets forth provisions regarding legal challenges to federal forest management activities on land suitable for timber production.

The bill revises the standard of review for a court considering a request for injunctive relief applicable to an agency's qualified forest management activity. Specifically, a court must balance the impact to the ecosystem of undertaking the agency action against not undertaking the agency action.

The bill also limits the length of preliminary injunctive relief and stays pending appeal in such cases to 60 days.

Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands, and the Department of the Interior, with respect to public lands, to each establish a discretionary arbitration pilot program as an alternative dispute resolution process for challenges to qualified forest management activities.

The bill prohibits amounts from being obligated or expended from the Claims and Judgment Fund and awards to pay any fees or other expenses to any plaintiff related to an action challenging a qualified forest management activity.

What's happening now August 11, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 7
All 7 Republican 7