Quick Facts:
- Bill: LANDs Act, H.R. 10669, the Legislative Approval for National Designations Act.
- Sponsor: Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), introduced October 1, 2026.
- Status: Referred to the House Natural Resources Committee, with no later action listed.
- Size rule: New monuments over 640 acres are barred if closer than 50 miles to another presidential monument.
- Withdrawals: Federal land withdrawals over 5,000 acres would need approval from Congress.
- Existing monuments: Unchanged, because the bill covers future designations only.
 6 min read
In This Article
What the LANDs Act Would Change
The LANDs Act (H.R. 10669) would limit presidential monument designations and send large land withdrawals to Congress. Rep. Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican, introduced the bill on October 1, 2026, with six original cosponsors. The House referred it to the Natural Resources Committee, and Congress.gov lists no later action.
Existing monuments stay as they are, because the bill covers only designations made after it becomes law. However, it would change the rules for the next monument, and monument rules help decide off-road access.
We read the introduced bill text, a Congressional Research Service report, and the supporters’ own materials. Because the sources so far come mostly from supporters, we note what the text does and does not say.
Monument rules differ by proclamation, so check which agency manages the land before you drive it. A paper atlas does not replace a monument’s current travel map, but it helps you plan around one. The Benchmark Utah atlas shows drivable roads classed by surface and purpose. Its Arizona and Nevada editions cover two more Western states with national monuments.
State atlases for monument country
How the Bill Rewrites Monument Rules
First, the bill narrows what a monument protects. It amends the Antiquities Act of 1906, the law behind every presidential monument. Today the law covers “historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest.” The bill would replace this with “object or objects of antiquity.”
It also defines those objects as relics, artifacts, human remains, fossils other than fossil fuels, and certain older buildings. Natural geographic features, landscapes, ecosystems, and “values” would not qualify. As a result, a monument built around scenery alone would no longer be possible.
Second, the bill sets a size rule. A new monument is barred only when both tests apply. It must exceed 640 acres. Its boundary must also sit less than 50 miles from another presidential monument. Gosar’s office also calls this a 640-acre cap on new monuments without congressional approval.
Third, the bill allows an emergency exception of any size to prevent imminent and irreparable harm to a specific object. Those designations expire after one year, apply to the same land only once, and never become permanent. Uses allowed under the existing land plan, along with valid existing rights, continue during the emergency year.
Finally, a separate section requires express congressional approval before a federal agency withdraws more than 5,000 acres. The text lists one narrow exception with two conditions. A temporary land order of five years or less must apply. The president must also find the withdrawal necessary for national security. On monuments themselves, the bill requires written consent from owners of non-federal land inside a monument. It also bars water rights reservations through designation.
LANDs Act vs. Today’s Monument Rules
Gosar says the current system lets presidents “lock up enormous amounts of public land with the stroke of a pen,” as the Navajo-Hopi Observer quoted from his release. The table below shows where the bill text departs from today’s rules.
| Rule | Today | LANDs Act |
|---|---|---|
| What a monument protects | Objects of historic or scientific interest | Objects of antiquity only |
| Size | Smallest area compatible with proper care of the objects | Over 640 acres barred if closer than 50 miles to another presidential monument |
| Emergency designations | No imminent-threat requirement | Any size, one year, one time per parcel |
Notably, the bill covers creating or expanding monuments, not shrinking them. The Navajo-Hopi Observer also reports the same limits would apply to a future expansion back to former boundaries, such as Bears Ears. Our report on the Bears Ears order from July covers how the current boundaries came about.
In 1976, Congress repealed much of the president’s other withdrawal authority but still left the Antiquities Act in place. Even so, the law’s history is disputed. According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), critics call large monuments inconsistent with the law’s intent. Defenders point out the law has no imminent-threat requirement.
How Monuments Shape Off-Road Access
Monument status does not close an area to vehicles by default. The CRS says proclamations for many monuments created after 1996 bar off-road driving except for emergency or authorized purposes. Otherwise, the managing agency’s plan typically addresses which routes stay open.
The Wilderness Society, a monument supporter, lists riding motorized vehicles on designated roads among the activities allowed in monuments. In contrast, the BlueRibbon Coalition says presidents have closed millions of acres to motorized use through monuments, shutting roads and removing campsites.
The two claims need not conflict, because each proclamation and management plan differs. Our guide to reading MVUMs explains the national forest version. The Forest Service travel management rule revision is still ahead, with a proposed rule expected in spring 2027. Before you plan a route, check the specific monument’s travel map.
Who Backs the Bill and What Comes Next
Gosar’s release lists 11 supporting groups, including the BlueRibbon Coalition, the Pacific Legal Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Megan Jenkins of the Pacific Legal Foundation said the bill “establishes commonsense guardrails.” Original cosponsors also include Reps. Nick Begich, Lauren Boebert, Eli Crane, Harriet Hageman, Mike Kennedy, and Pete Stauber.
At the time of writing, the sources we reviewed included no formal response from major conservation groups. We cannot report their position on the bill.
The path ahead is long. First, the House committee must act, and then both chambers must pass the bill before the president signs it. Since the 119th Congress ends in early January 2027, a bill not enacted by then lapses. Meanwhile, the BlueRibbon Coalition posted an action alert on October 22 asking members to contact Congress in support.
While Congress weighs the bill, route planning stays local to each monument. Pair the current travel map with a paper atlas of the state you ride most. Benchmark also publishes Colorado and Idaho editions.
More Western state atlases
Colorado Road & Recreation Atlas (Benchmark Recreation Atlases)
 bars large new monuments near existing ones and sends big land withdrawals to Congress. See what it changes for you.){kind=link}
What the LANDs Act Means for You
Nothing changes on the trail today. The bill sits in committee. Even if enacted, it would leave every current monument and its travel rules in place.
If the bill advances, expect the debate to center on the narrow definition of objects. Supporters say the current system lets presidents lock up large areas of public land. The CRS describes the Antiquities Act as a tool designed to protect federal lands and resources quickly.
If you ride or camp near a monument, three steps matter now. First, read the proclamation and the current travel map for the monument. Next, note which agency manages it, because the agency writes the management plan. Finally, watch for management plan updates, since those plans typically address route status. Our dispersed camping rules guide covers the camping side.
Final Thoughts
The LANDs Act sits at an early stage, and it must clear Congress before it affects anyone’s route. Still, it raises a fair question about who decides how much land a monument covers. Supporters see a check on presidential power, while defenders see a tool for quick protection.
I camp and overland, so access rules matter to me, and I would rather you read the bill text than a headline. Notably, the introduced text contains no road or trail closures. Its 640-acre limit applies only to monuments sitting closer than 50 miles to another presidential monument.
If you ride in monument country, keep a current travel map in the truck and check the managing agency before each trip. We will also follow the bill if the committee takes it up.
FAQ
What is the LANDs Act?
The LANDs Act is H.R. 10669, the Legislative Approval for National Designations Act. Rep. Paul Gosar introduced it on October 1, 2026. It limits presidential monument designations and requires congressional approval for federal land withdrawals over 5,000 acres.
Does the LANDs Act change existing monuments?
No. The bill applies to designations made after it becomes law. Its text covers creating and expanding monuments and says nothing about shrinking them. Current boundaries and travel rules stay in place because the bill looks forward.
Does the bill close any roads or trails?
No. The introduced text contains no road or trail closures. It changes how future monuments are created, while route rules still come from each monument’s proclamation and management plan.
Would presidents still create monuments?
Yes, within limits. A monument of 640 acres or less would stay available. Larger ones need a site 50 or more miles from another presidential monument. Emergency designations of any size would also remain available for one year.