H.R. 9221: Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act

The Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act (H.R. 9221) aims to improve access to certain public lands for individuals with disabilities. Below is a breakdown of the major components of the bill:

1. Definitions

The bill defines key terms, including:

• Disability-accessible land: Public land that has at least 2.5 miles of authorized road accessible by motorized or off-road vehicles.
• Off-road vehicle: Any motorized vehicle designed for travel over natural terrain.
• Public land: Includes National Forest System land and land managed by the Secretary of the Interior.

2. Updates to Management Plans

The bill requires the relevant Secretaries (Agriculture and Interior) to prioritize updates to travel and motor vehicle use plans related to public lands.

3. Motor Vehicle Use Maps

For developing motor vehicle use maps and designations regarding public lands, the Secretaries must:

• Consider the length of roads in each square mile of public land.
• Prioritize recreational access for activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, and more.
• Coordinate with state and local governments, and Tribal authorities to ensure access for people with disabilities.
• Maintain roads involved in ongoing legal claims until those claims are resolved.

4. Road Closures and New Roads

The bill outlines provisions for road closures and the establishment of new roads:

• For disability-accessible land: Roads cannot be closed if it would reduce motorized vehicle access below the threshold required for disability accessibility, except in specific circumstances, like safety concerns.
• For non-disability-accessible land: The Secretaries must consider reopening recently closed roads and are restricted from closing additional roads without justifiable safety assessments.
• The Secretaries will provide public notice and a hearing before any road closures occur.
• New roads must be provided for within a year of a closure, with certain conditions exempting them from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

5. Effect of the Act

The bill specifies that it does not prevent the Secretaries from creating new roads for motorized vehicle use on public land, nor does it allow the establishment of new roads or trails in wilderness areas or certain protected lands.

Relevant Companies

• DECK (Deckers Outdoor Corporation): As a company that produces outdoor and lifestyle footwear, Deckers could see changes in demand for products related to outdoor activities facilitated by increased access under the bill.
• PXD (Pioneer Natural Resources Company): Greater accessibility to public lands may lead to increased recreational activities, possibly impacting demand for recreational vehicles and services, which Pioneer may indirectly benefit from through economic growth in related sectors.