US Federal Senate Bill SB1376

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/27/25
• Introduced: 4/9/25
• Refer: 4/9/25
• Report Pass: 10/21/25

Caption

Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025

Summary

SB 1376, the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025, would amend the National Trails System Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the Benton MacKaye Trail should be designated as a national scenic trail. The bill identifies the trail as a roughly 287-mile, nonmotorized route running through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and notes that it passes through major public lands and wilderness areas, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and several national forests. The measure does not itself create the national scenic trail designation. Instead, it directs the Secretary, in consultation with interested organizations such as the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, to complete and submit a feasibility study to Congress within one year of enactment. The bill’s findings emphasize the trail’s scenic value, biodiversity, accessibility for hikers of different skill levels, and potential economic benefits for rural communities along the route.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would amend 16 U.S.C. 1244(c) of the National Trails System Act by adding the Benton MacKaye Trail to the list of trails for which a federal feasibility study is required. It would impose a one-year reporting obligation on the Secretary of Agriculture and could be a precursor to future legislation designating the trail as a national scenic trail. The bill would not immediately change land management rules, trail status, or federal protections, but it would formally place the trail under congressional review for possible designation.

Sentiment

The available context suggests broadly positive sentiment. The bill was introduced by Senators from both parties and was reported out of committee without amendment, indicating little procedural resistance. The findings section frames the trail favorably as scenic, accessible, and economically beneficial, and the absence of recorded votes or committee debate suggests the measure was noncontroversial at this stage.

Contention

No specific opposition is reflected in the provided record. The only potential point of policy interest is whether the federal government should undertake a feasibility study and, eventually, whether the trail should receive national scenic trail status. Any substantive concerns would likely relate to federal land management implications, administrative cost, or the appropriateness of expanding the National Trails System, but none are documented in the available transcripts or vote history.