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S 3527

A bill to release from wilderness study area designation certain land in the State of Montana, to improve the management of that land, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Steve Daines and 1 co-sponsor

S.3527 would remove Montana land from Wilderness Study Area status to enable alternative management and greater flexibility for land-use decisions.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3527

Summary of Senate Bill S.3527

Overview

Senate Bill S.3527 proposes to release certain land in Montana from the wilderness study area designation and to improve the management of that land, along with other related purposes. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 28, 2025.

Legislative Status and Procedures

  • Introduced: January 28, 2025
  • Initial referrals: Budget and Revenue (listed twice in initial actions)
  • Later actions: December 17, 2025 – Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • Introduced in the Senate (recorded on December 17, 2025)
  • Sponsors:
    • Primary: Robert Ortt
    • Co-sponsor: George Borrello
  • Related bills:
    • S 5679 (prior-session)
    • A 4720 (companion bills)

Purpose and Intent

  • The core aim is to remove certain land from wilderness study area designation in Montana.
  • The underlying intent appears to be enabling improved land management by shifting the land out of the wilderness study area framework, which often imposes stricter protections and review requirements.

Key Provisions (as described)

  • Release from Wilderness Study Area (WSA) designation: The bill would designate a process or action to remove specific land from WSA status.
  • Management changes: By removing the WSA designation, the land would become subject to management options applicable to non-WSA lands, potentially altering restrictions on development, resource use, and administrative planning.
  • Additional purposes: The bill references “other purposes,” suggesting potential companion or incidental authorities related to land management, use planning, or related federal/state coordination.

Note: The exact scope (which parcels, size, current status, and precise management authorities) and the detailed mechanisms (e.g., procedures for release, timing, environmental reviews) would be contained in the bill’s text. The available information indicates a focus on recalibrating how the affected land is managed by moving it out of the wilderness study area designation.

Effects and Impacts

  • Lands currently under WSA protections in Montana would be subject to different management regimes if released.
  • Potential impacts could include greater flexibility for federal land managers (e.g., BLM or the relevant agency) to implement management plans, use authorizations, or undertake activities that were restricted under WSA status.
  • Potential stakeholders include federal land managers, state and local government entities in Montana, recreational users, conservation groups, and industries with an interest in land and resource use (timber, minerals, grazing, etc.). The exact impact would depend on the parcels affected and the post-release management framework.

Timing and Process

  • Initial referrals occurred on January 28, 2025.
  • As of December 17, 2025, the bill had been read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, indicating it is moving through standard committee review.
  • The companion and related bills (including A 4720 in the companion state assembly version) suggest ongoing discussion or alignment with similar proposals.

Summary

S.3527 seeks to reclassify certain Montana land by removing it from wilderness study area designation to enable different management options. It is at the committee-review stage in the Senate, with sponsorship from Senator Robert Ortt and Senator George Borrello, and has related companion and prior-session bills. Readers should consult the full bill text for parcel-specific details, exact management authorities, and timeline milestones.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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