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H.R. 4579: Forest Litigation Reform Act of 2021

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H.R. 4579: Forest Litigation Reform Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-07-20 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-07-20 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Rosendale Sr., Matthew M. [R-MT-At Large] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Forest Litigation Reform Act of 2021

Plain summary

Forest Litigation Reform Act of 2021 This bill sets forth provisions regarding legal challenges to federal forest management activities on land suitable for timber production. The bill revises the standard of review for a court considering a request for injunctive relief applicable to an agency's qualified forest management activity. Specifically, a court must balance the impact to the ecosystem of undertaking the agency action against not undertaking the agency action. The bill also limits the length of preliminary injunctive relief and stays pending appeal in such cases to 60 days. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands, and the Department of the Interior, with respect to public lands, to each establish a discretionary arbitration pilot program as an alternative dispute resolution process for challenges to qualified forest management activities. The bill prohibits amounts from being obligated or expended from the Claims and Judgment Fund and awards to pay any fees or other expenses to any plaintiff related to an action challenging a qualified forest management activity.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

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

Forest Litigation Reform Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Rosendale Sr., Matthew M. [R-MT-At Large] · 8 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Tom Cole (R-OK), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Thomas P. Tiffany (R-WI), Jay Obernolte (R-CA)

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 (3)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Obligation
A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
Resolution
A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4579 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117