119th (2025–2027)
S. 2042
This bill would protect inventoried roadless areas in the National Forest System by permanently prohibiting road construction, road reconstruction, and logging in these areas. The legislation applies to approximately 58.5 million acres of undeveloped national forest land that have been designated as roadless under the existing "Roadless Rule," which has been in effect since 2001 with state-specific modifications. The bill aims to preserve these areas for their environmental benefits—including clean water protection, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities—while allowing other multiple-use activities like hunting, fishing, and mechanized recreation that do not require road development. The bill does not impose any new restrictions on lands outside roadless areas or on non-federal lands, and it maintains the Forest Service's multiple-use management mission. By codifying existing roadless protections into law, the bill would prevent future changes to the rule and provide certainty for communities that depend on roadless areas for recreation-based economic activity.