H.B. 546: Public Lands Duty of Care Amendments

About this bill

Signed by the governor on March 25, 2026. This bill addresses the jurisdictional management of public lands.

• Defines terms
• Asserts the state's jurisdictional interest in land controlled by the federal government under a proprietary interest
• Directs the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office (office) to promote the state's jurisdictional interests on landscape-scale public lands
• Requires the office to: identify and map landscape-scale lands in the state; establish map layers for certain criteria on landscape-scale lands; map a landscape public nuisance area on landscape-scale lands containing forested areas; and report annually on the map to the Federalism Commission
• Requires the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to assist the office in identifying a landscape public nuisance area for landscape-scale lands containing forested areas
• Makes technical and conforming changes

Full bill page: steps, fiscal note and sponsors · Chief sponsor Ken Ivory