S 446 · 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.
- Introduced
- Feb 6, 2025
- Latest action
- Feb 4, 2026
- Sponsor
- Sen. Rick Scott [R-FL]
- Policy area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Cosponsors
- 0
Summary
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.
Recent actions
- Feb 4, 2026 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.
- Dec 9, 2025 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
- Feb 6, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Feb 6, 2025 Introduced in Senate
Votes
No recorded votes are available for this bill.