Bill to restore 'open unless posted closed' presumption for many forest roads draws support and questions

Representative Krank and motorized‑recreation advocates told the House subcommittee that the Public Lands Access Restoration Act (HR 7979) would correct what they described as an inventory and signage problem that effectively closed many routes to motorized use.

Krank said the bill would "restore a more common sense approach by reestablishing the open unless posted closed policy" for designated motorized roads and trails while excluding wilderness and National Park Service lands from the bill’s scope. Chad Hixson, executive director of the Trails Preservation Alliance, testified that missing routes in agency inventories have functioned as "de facto closures," and he urged a timely nomination process to reopen routes that were not analyzed or listed.

Forest Service witness Ellen Schulzbarger said the agency supports increasing recreation access and is willing to work with the committee on technical details. She noted that inventories are challenging because of the sheer number of roads and trails and that any change must avoid unintended effects on emergency services and resource protections. "We support increasing recreation access and look forward to working with the committee and providing technical assistance," she told members.

Members from Utah and Idaho—states with high proportions of federal land—pressed on cumulative impacts of closures to rural economies and on how PLARA’s "clear and convincing" standard for closures would interact with existing Forest Service rules; witnesses said the nomination process and technical assistance could address many concerns but cautioned that reversing inventory losses would not be instantaneous.

What’s next: The Forest Service and BLM were asked to provide written technical responses and the record was held open for follow‑up questions; the committee did not take a formal vote at the hearing.