Representatives Jeff Crank of Colorado and Mike Kennedy of Utah introduced the Public Lands Access Restoration Act (PLARA) on Mar. 26, aiming to expand motorized recreational access on public lands. The bill was discussed in a legislative hearing by the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
The proposed legislation seeks to address declining opportunities for motorized recreation, which supporters say have resulted from federal agency actions since 2005 that limited access without congressional direction. Advocates argue that current restrictions affect both local economies and individuals who rely on these lands for outdoor activities.
Before 2005, most public lands operated under an “open unless posted closed” policy, allowing various forms of recreation such as hiking, biking, hunting, and angling across many roads and trails. After the policy change by federal agencies, many routes were excluded from official inventories during travel management planning processes. In Colorado alone, only eight percent of the state’s total trail miles are now open to motorcyclists while nearly half of public lands restrict motorized use.
“America’s public lands support a wide range of recreational uses,” said Rep. Jeff Crank. “The Public Lands Access Restoration Act will limit restrictions of motorized access to concerns over resource protection and public safety. This bill expands opportunities for Coloradans and all Americans to access and enjoy our public lands.” He thanked Rep. Kennedy for co-leading the bill as well as organizations like the Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA) for highlighting these issues.
Rep. Mike Kennedy said: “Utahns have watched 1,500 miles of trails be restricted under a federal rule that was designed without us in mind… PLARA restores this common-sense standard, giving Utahns recreational access to the landscapes that have defined us for generations.” Chad Hixon from TPA added: “This isn’t an issue of overuse; it’s an issue of over-concentration driven not by a lack of trails but by a lack of access to them.” Becky Leinweber from Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance said: “By improving the process for maintaining and designating routes, this bill supports responsible motorized access while ensuring decisions remain grounded in resource protection and public input—benefiting all who recreate on our public lands.”
Karen Bailey-Chapman with Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) described PLARA as “an important policy shift” intended to ensure Bureau of Land Management- and Forest Service-managed lands remain accessible unless there is justifiable need related to resource protection or safety.
If enacted into law, PLARA would codify an “open unless posted closed” approach nationwide; limit closures strictly based on resource or safety concerns; require clear signage; mandate updated maps; set review periods every five years; and guarantee a thirty-day comment period before new restrictions take effect.
