A bill to prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve from being designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably and an amendment to the title.· February 4, 2026
The summary
What this bill does
This bill prohibits the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida from being designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The National Park Service currently manages Big Cypress National Preserve, which is a freshwater swamp ecosystem of 729,000 acres.
In general, development activities, commercial activities, permanent structures, and roads are prohibited in wilderness areas. In contrast, natural preserves typically allow some development activities, such as hunting or oil and gas exploration.
Legislative timeline
From introduction
Feb 6, 2025
Introduced & referred to committee
Congressional support
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Member of Congress · R-FL
Roll-call vote
The vote, by member
The vote, by member
VERSION CHANGES
What changed,
and where.
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Bill Metadata
| Congress | 119 |
| Bill Type | S |
| Bill Number | 446 |
| Origin Chamber | Senate |
| Current Status | Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably and an amendment to the title. |
| Policy Area | Public Lands and Natural Resources |
| Primary Committee | Not assigned |
| Introduced | February 6, 2025 |
| Latest Action | February 4, 2026 |
| Cosponsors | 0 · House vote — · — views |