Bill orders study on national scenic trail status for Benton MacKaye Trail
Passed one chamberH.R. 2768Latest action
Sponsor: Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann · Representative · TN
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Official title: Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026
119th Congress
Topics: Environment & energy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 2768 requires a one-year federal study on whether the Benton MacKaye Trail should become a National Scenic Trail.
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What does this do?
The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the 287-mile Benton MacKaye Trail, which runs through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, should be designated a National Scenic Trail. It amends the National Trails System Act to require a formal feasibility study completed within one year and submitted to Congress. The bill does not create the designation itself; further legislation would be needed for that.
Who does it affect?
The U.S. Forest Service, the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, and communities near the trail in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina are directly affected. Hikers and outdoor tourists could see effects if a future designation follows.
Why does it matter?
The study's outcome will determine whether Congress later considers legislation granting the trail official National Scenic Trail status, which typically affects funding, promotion, and protection levels. No designation or funding change occurs from this bill alone.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedApr 9, 2025
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · Jun 3, 2026
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 426.