H.R. 491: To modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for inclusion in the national forest, and for other purposes.

H.R. 491: To modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for inclusion in the national forest, and for other purposes.

112th Congress · introduced 2011-01-26 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2011-01-26 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM-1] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for inclusion in the national forest, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Expands the boundaries of the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico to include the Crest of Montezuma. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer administrative jurisdiction over such land to the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) for inclusion in the Forest. Instructs the Secretary of Agriculture to administer any permit or other land use authorization for such transferred land that is still in effect as of the transfer date in accordance with the terms of such permit or authorization. Permits such Secretary, upon the expiration of such a permit or authorization, to reauthorize the use covered by that permit or authorization under the authorities available to the Secretary on such terms and conditions as considered in the public interest. Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire, with the owner's consent, the private land included within the boundaries of the Forest by this Act. Requires any federally owned lands that have already been or hereafter may be acquired for National Forest System purposes within the Forest's boundaries, as modified by this Act, to be managed as lands acquired under the Act of March 1, 1911, commonly known as the Weeks Act, and according to the other laws and regulations that pertain to the System. Withdraws the Crest of Montezuma from: (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the public land mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, and mineral materials laws.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for inclusion in the national forest, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM-1] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM-1] reported raising $1.7 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Jurisdiction: The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-112hr491.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/112/hr>

Record fed-us-cong112-hr491 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112