H.R. 598 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Jan 21, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryLimits environmental reviews for forest management
The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management manage vast amounts of public land across the country. When a new animal or plant species is officially protected as threatened or endangered, these agencies currently have to stop and reconsider their existing land management plans. This bill would change that requirement, saying the agencies don't have to restart that review process when new species get protected, critical habitat is designated, or new information comes up about how their plans might affect protected species.
How it affects you
This mainly affects people involved in forestry, conservation, and land management decisions on federal lands. Environmental groups and people concerned with species protection may see this as reducing oversight, while timber companies and those focused on faster land management decisions may see it as streamlining processes. The practical impact depends on how often these reconsiderations currently happen and how important they are to protecting endangered species in your region.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 21, 2025)
Forest Information Reform Act or the FIR Act
This bill specifies that neither the Forest Service nor the Bureau of Land Management are required to reinitiate consultation on a land management plan when a new species is listed as threatened or endangered, critical habitat is designated, or new information reveals effects of the plan may affect a listed species or critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 598
A BILL
FIR Act
Sponsor: Rep. Ryan K. Zinke (R-MT-1) · Introduced Jan 21, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 28, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.”