S. 1681 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, May 8, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryCreates scenic area and wilderness in Virginia forest
This bill would set aside about 92,000 acres of National Forest land in Virginia as a protected Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area. It would also designate four new wilderness areas within that land and add acreage to an existing wilderness area, all managed as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, which means they'd be kept in their natural state.
How it affects you
If you live near or visit the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest in Virginia, this creates new protected land where hiking, camping, and other outdoor recreation would continue but commercial development and logging would be restricted. Most other Americans won't feel direct effects from this land designation.
Read the official summary (Reported to Senate, Oct 27, 2025)
Shenandoah Mountain Act
This bill establishes the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, consisting of approximately 92,562 acres of National Forest System land in Virginia in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
The bill designates specified lands in the forest as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, including approximately (1) 5,088 acres as the Skidmore Fork Wilderness, (2) 3,568 acres as the Lynn Hollow Wilderness, (3) 12,461 acres as the Little River Wilderness, and (4) 5,779 acres as the Beech Lick Knob Wilderness. It also incorporates approximately 6,961 acres into the Ramseys Draft Wilderness.
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 SessionS. 1681
A BILL
Shenandoah Mountain Act
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) · Introduced May 8, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Oct 27, 2025: “Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 2 official versions.