A controversial Senate proposal could force the sale of more than 250 million acres of public land across the West, including over 14 million acres in California. That includes parcels right here on the North Coast: Samoa Dunes, the South Jetty, Gillam Butte, and swaths of the Six Rivers, Mendocino, and Klamath National Forests.
The bill fast-tracks land sales with no public hearings, no tribal consultation, and no community input — giving energy corporations, developers, and billionaire-backed interests a clear path to buy up land meant to be protected for future generations.
Critics like the Wilderness Society and Friends of the Lost Coast are calling it an unprecedented giveaway to industry, with potential impacts on conservation, public access, tribal sovereignty, and rural economies.
The legislation—officially titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1)—passed the House on May 22 by a narrow vote of 215 to 214. It includes sweeping tax policy changes and major cuts to non-defense discretionary spending, including reductions to education, healthcare, and public service programs. The Senate began considering its version of the bill on June 23, with a floor vote expected by the end of this week.
Lawmakers are aiming to send a final version to the President before the July 4 recess. Lauren Schmitt reports…