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Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act
S. 1470 To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to prioritize the completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior to prioritize completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a continuous route within 10 years of enactment.
- Requires establishment of a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Trail completion team within one year to facilitate trail completion and develop a comprehensive development plan.
- Requires the Trail completion team to consult with federal, state, tribal, and local governments, landowners, and interested parties on trail completion.
- Requires completion of a comprehensive development plan within 3 years identifying trail gaps, easement opportunities, and site-specific development plans with anticipated costs.
- Directs the Secretaries to seek partnerships with volunteer and nonprofit organizations to facilitate completion and administration of the trail.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM)
3 cosponsors
- Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (R-MT)
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM)
- Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT] (R-MT)
Actions (5)
- Jul 23, 2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 477. · senate
- Jul 23, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report. · senate
- Dec 17, 2025 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. · senate
- Apr 10, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. · senate
- Apr 10, 2025 Introduced in Senate
More bills on these subjects (8)
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Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (2)
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Committee action
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Meetings where this bill was on the agenda
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 10, 2025
Mr. Heinrich (for himself, Mr. Daines, Mr. Sheehy, and Mr. Lujan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
July 23, 2026
Reported by Mr. Lee, without amendment
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to prioritize the completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act”.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(2) Trail.—The term “Trail” means the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
(3) Trail completion team.—The term “Trail Completion Team” means the joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Trail completion team established under section 4(a).
SEC. 3. COMPLETION OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall seek to complete the Trail as a continuous route not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. TRAIL COMPLETION TEAM.
(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Trail completion team to work in coordination with the administrator of the Trail—
(1) to facilitate the completion and optimization of the Trail, consistent with the purposes of the Trail; and
(2) to assist in the development of the comprehensive development plan for the Trail under section 5.
(b) Consultation.—As appropriate, the Trail Completion Team shall consult with other Federal agencies, affected State, Tribal, and local governments, landowners, affected land-grant mercedes owners and users, acequias, and other interested parties in—
(1) the completion and optimization of the Trail; and
(2) the development and completion of the comprehensive development plan for the Trail under section 5.
SEC. 5. COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.
(a) In General.—Not later than 3 years after the date of establishment of the Trail Completion Team under section 4(a), the Secretary shall complete a comprehensive development plan for the Trail.
(b) Plan Inclusions.—The comprehensive development plan under subsection (a) shall—
(1) identify any gaps in the Trail for which the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior have not been able to acquire land;
(2) identify opportunities for the use of easements acquired from willing sellers to facilitate completion of the Trail; and
(3) include general and site-specific Trail development plans, including anticipated costs of the plans.
SEC. 6. PARTNERSHIPS.
The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall seek to enter into agreements with volunteer and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate, to facilitate the completion and administration of the Trail.
SEC. 7. EFFECT.
Nothing in this Act—
(1) provides any authority to acquire land or interests in land for inclusion in the Trail beyond the authorities provided for the Trail in the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.), including acquisition by eminent domain; or
(2) makes the acquisition of land or interests in land for the Trail a priority over other land acquisition authorizations. Calendar No. 477
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1470
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to prioritize the completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes.
July 23, 2026
Reported without amendment
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