Senate bill would create 92,562-acre Shenandoah Mountain scenic area
Placed on the calendarS. 1681Latest action
Sponsor: Tim Kaine · Senator · VA
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Shenandoah Mountain Act
119th Congress
Topics: Environment & energy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
S 1681 would protect 92,562 acres of Virginia national forest and add 33,800 acres of new wilderness.
55-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
S 1681 creates the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, covering about 92,562 acres in Virginia's George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, to protect scenery, water quality, wildlife habitat, and forests, while allowing hiking and non-motorized recreation. It also designates five new or expanded wilderness areas totaling roughly 33,800 acres with the strongest federal protections, banning roads, logging, and motorized vehicles. The bill bans new roads, most timber harvesting, mining, oil and gas leasing, and new wind or solar projects, and requires the Forest Service to create trail and management plans within two years.
Who does it affect?
The bill affects hikers, campers, hunters, nearby residents, and private landowners in the area, as well as loggers and energy companies who would lose access to timber, mining, and renewable energy development. The U.S. Forest Service would take on new planning duties, and Virginia's two U.S. senators introduced the bill, which is under committee review.
Why does it matter?
The designation would permanently restrict logging, mining, energy development, and road-building on the land, limiting future commercial and industrial use while formalizing protections for wildlife, water, and forest habitat.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedMay 8, 2025
- Senate committee
- Senate voteYou are here · Oct 27, 2025
- House
- The president's desk
Right now: it was placed on the , and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.