US Federal Senate Bill SJR62

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/7/25
• Introduced: 7/10/25
• Refer: 7/10/25

Caption

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan".

Summary

SJR62 is a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act that would disapprove a Bureau of Land Management rule tied to the North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan. The resolution states that Congress rejects the BLM action issued on January 14, 2025, and incorporates a June 25, 2025 Government Accountability Office opinion concluding that the record of decision and approved resource management plan qualifies as a rule for CRA purposes. If enacted, the resolution would nullify the BLM plan and make it have no force or effect. In practical terms, that would block implementation of the federal land-use and resource-management framework adopted for BLM-managed lands in North Dakota, affecting how those lands are managed for uses such as energy development, grazing, conservation, recreation, and other public-land activities.

Impact

The bill would not amend state law directly, but it would override a federal land-management rule under the Congressional Review Act. Its effect would be to invalidate the BLM’s North Dakota Field Office resource management plan and prevent the agency from implementing that planning decision unless a new rule is adopted through future administrative action. The measure primarily affects federal land users, local stakeholders, and industries operating on or near BLM lands in North Dakota, including ranchers, energy producers, conservation interests, and recreation users.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally favorable sentiment among the sponsors and supporters of the resolution, as it was introduced by Senators Cramer and Hoeven and advanced by petition to the Senate calendar. The absence of recorded committee debate or votes limits the ability to measure broader support or opposition, but the procedural movement indicates the measure was treated as a priority for review. Overall, the bill appears to reflect a critical view of the BLM plan and a desire to reverse it.

Contention

The main point of contention is the underlying BLM North Dakota resource management plan itself, which the resolution seeks to nullify. Supporters likely view the plan as overly restrictive or inconsistent with local and state interests, while opponents would likely argue that the plan reflects appropriate federal land-management policy and planning authority. A secondary issue is the use of the Congressional Review Act to overturn a land-management decision, which can be controversial because it bypasses ordinary administrative revision processes and prevents reissuance of a substantially similar rule without new authorization.