Controversial land bill faces rewrite after public backlash

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) is revising a controversial proposal to sell millions of acres of public land following backlash from outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The current draft could impact land around significant California destinations, including Mount Shasta and Big Sur, making it eligible for sale to housing developers. Critics, including Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif. ), argue that privatizing these lands could restrict access to popular hiking and camping areas frequented by San Franciscans. The proposal aims to sell up to 3.

3 million acres, focusing on parcels outside protected lands but near roads deemed suitable for development. A conservation nonprofit warns that this could jeopardize access to areas around Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. Most proceeds from the land sale, estimated between $5 billion and $10 billion over a decade, would go to the U. S. Treasury, with only 5% allocated to local governments.

There are calls for the revised proposal to include protections for public trails used for hiking and skiing. The situation highlights a contradiction within conservative circles regarding public land stewardship.