DOMESTIC WATER USE – Amends existing law related to domestic use of water and to provide for delivery, planning, and enforcement.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

Expands NPS/Forest Service authority to fund and expand workforce housing, including off-park options and private partnerships, for land managers and seasonal staff.

Signed by Governor on 03/19/25 Session Law Chapter 129 Effective: 07/01/2025

#homesandhousing #irrigation #livestock #plumbingandplumbers #water #wells

Overview

S. 1083, introduced in the Senate on March 14, 2025, seeks to expand the authority and capacity of the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Forest Service to address workforce housing needs for land managers and related staff. The bill prioritizes housing for the NPS workforce, expands off-park housing options, broadens rental and partnership opportunities, and establishes reporting and oversight provisions. It envisions leveraging rental receipts and philanthropic/private partnerships to support workforce housing initiatives and includes a framework for emergency spending justification.

Key Provisions (by Title)

Title I — Expanding authority

Sec. 101: Prioritize National Park Service workforce housing.

Sec. 102: Authorize the NPS to address workforce housing off-park (outside park boundaries).

Sec. 103: Expand NPS rental options.

Sec. 104: Use NPS rental receipts to fund workforce housing programming.

Sec. 105: Empower the Forest Service to address its own workforce housing needs.

Title II — Expanding partnership capacity

Sec. 201: Engage partners to address NPS workforce housing.

Sec. 202: Encourage public-private cooperative management arrangements.

Sec. 203: Leverage philanthropic support to address NPS workforce housing.

Title III — Supporting workforce

Sec. 301: Support the land manager workforce.

Sec. 302: Support the seasonal National Park Service workforce.

Title IV — Reports and oversight

Sec. 401: Quantify the workforce housing needs of land managers.

Sec. 402: Conduct oversight of housing programming for land managers.

Sec. 403: Justify emergency spending.

Affected Parties

Primary: National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

Workforce: Land managers and seasonal/temporary park staff.

Partners: Public-private entities, philanthropic organizations, and other stakeholders engaged in housing, development, and property management related to federal lands.

Recipients/users: Potential renters and program beneficiaries of NPS/Forest Service workforce housing initiatives.

Funding, Oversight, and Timeline

Funding mechanisms contemplated include leveraging NPS rental receipts and pursuing emergency spending justification (Sec. 104 and Sec. 403), though the introduced text does not specify dollar figures.

Oversight requirements include formal assessment of housing needs (Sec. 401) and ongoing oversight of housing programs (Sec. 402).

Procedural status: Introduced in the Senate on March 14, 2025; Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (text reference S1779-1781).

Sponsors: Primary — John Barrasso; Co-Sponsors — Angus King and Steve Daines.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

Could increase the availability of housing for federal land managers by using off-park options and rental revenues to fund programs.

May expand collaboration with private firms and philanthropic groups, potentially accelerating housing solutions but requiring clear accountability and oversight.

Emphasizes workforce stability by addressing both year-round and seasonal staffing needs.

Requires robust data collection on housing needs and transparent justification for any emergency spending.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to current law and highlight what would change upon enactment.

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