Forest stewardship expands to include tribal partners, longer contracts
H.R. 7951 — Long-Term Good Neighbor Authority Act · Filed by David Valadao (R-CA) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Mar 16, 2026 · Hearing held
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What it does
This bill amends two federal laws to expand the 'Good Neighbor Authority' program, which allows the U.S. Forest Service to contract with state governors, Indian tribes, and counties to perform restoration and recreation work on federal forests. The bill extends the maximum contract term from the current limit to 20 years and formally includes Indian tribes as eligible partners alongside governors and counties in both the Agricultural Act of 2014 and the EXPLORE Act.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is to broaden eligibility for and extend the duration of Good Neighbor Authority agreements, a cooperative forest management tool. It is a straightforward expansion of an existing program to include tribal partners and longer-term commitments.
What the text implies
- Tribal inclusion in Good Neighbor Authority may shift forest management priorities toward cultural and ecological stewardship models that differ from state/county approaches, potentially affecting timber harvest rates and recreation access.
- 20-year contract terms create long-term fiscal and operational commitments for state, tribal, and county governments; budget constraints or political changes could strain implementation.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill expands participation in forest stewardship to include Indian tribes (who have historical and cultural stakes in forest management) and extends contract terms to enable longer-term, more stable restoration work. Citizens benefit from more diverse local partners managing public forests and from the continuity that 20-year agreements enable, though the actual public benefit depends on implementation and appropriations.