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H.R. 8616119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Apr 30, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 8616 would protect about 85,000 acres near Santa Fe, NM by banning new roads, mining, and drilling across two designated zones.
65-second read · 4 questions answered below
This bill sets aside roughly 85,000 acres of federal land near Santa Fe, New Mexico into two protected zones: a Special Management Area of about 67,000 acres in the Santa Fe National Forest and a National Conservation Area of about 18,000 acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management. A separate withdrawal area would be closed to mining, drilling, and new land sales. New permanent roads would be banned, though existing livestock grazing, wildfire management, and ecological restoration work could continue.
Native American tribes with ties to the area would keep guaranteed access for religious and traditional practices, and communities descended from Spanish and Mexican land grant holders would have their traditional uses like hunting, fishing, and wood gathering formally recognized. Santa Fe County and the city of Santa Fe would keep their existing rights to maintain drinking water infrastructure, while recreational users, off-road vehicle enthusiasts, and anyone seeking to mine or develop the land would face new restrictions.
Federal land managers would be required to create detailed management plans within three years, including decisions about which roads motor vehicles may use and which roads would be decommissioned. The federal government could also arrange voluntary land exchanges with the State of New Mexico if land values are fairly matched.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.