Senate Committee Set for Key Vote on Historic Roadways Protection Act: Tell Your Senators to Support

Feb 3, 2026

The Historic Roadways Protection Act is being voted on in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on February 4th. This crucial legislation, supported by BRC, would help protect hundreds of miles of closed Utah routes while courts decide ongoing R.S. 2477 right-of-way disputes. Tell your Senators to support by February 4th!

Historic Roadways Protection Act
Categories: Action Alert | BLM | Dirt Bike | E-bike | Fight for Every Inch | Off-Roading | Overlanding | Save Moab | Utah
Why you should submit here, even if you already have elsewhere!

We keep them honest. If everyone only comments through the government/agency site, we have to take their word on how many comments were received. By submitting through BRC, we create an independent record of our community’s response that can’t be buried or under-reported.

We protect your voice. If this fight ends up in court, having our own record of submitted comments means we don’t have to wait a year or more for a government agency to turn over documents. We can move quickly with proof that thousands of you spoke up.
We keep you in the loop. When you comment through our site, we can send you updates on what comes next. If you only use the government/agency site, you’re depending on them to tell you what happens next — and they won’t.

Double coverage matters. Even if you’ve already commented through the government/agency site, submitting through ours makes your voice count twice — once in their system, and once in ours. That way they know the OHV community is watching and tracking every move.

For years, BRC has been trusted to run action alerts like this. Thousands of members and supporters have used this system effectively to defend access to public lands. This isn’t about collecting your info — it’s about building the strongest, most transparent record possible to hold agencies accountable.

Why you should submit here, even if you already have elsewhere!

We keep them honest. If everyone only comments through the government/agency site, we have to take their word on how many comments were received. By submitting through BRC, we create an independent record of our community’s response that can’t be buried or under-reported.

We protect your voice. If this fight ends up in court, having our own record of submitted comments means we don’t have to wait a year or more for a government agency to turn over documents. We can move quickly with proof that thousands of you spoke up.

We keep you in the loop. When you comment through our site, we can send you updates on what comes next. If you only use the government/agency site, you’re depending on them to tell you what happens next — and they won’t.

Double coverage matters. Even if you’ve already commented through the government/agency site, submitting through ours makes your voice count twice — once in their system, and once in ours. That way they know the OHV community is watching and tracking every move.

For years, BRC has been trusted to run action alerts like this. Thousands of members and supporters have used this system effectively to defend access to public lands. This isn’t about collecting your info — it’s about building the strongest, most transparent record possible to hold agencies accountable.

UPDATE: This bill has cleared the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources!! Read our latest post here.

…

After several years of advocating for the Historic Roadways Protection Act and in response to over 1,000 miles of roads being closed in Southern Utah, it is now being voted on in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee on February 4, 2026 9:30am ET.

After 317 miles of popular routes were closed in Moab, elected leaders in Utah reached out to see what they could do to help roll back this shutdown of Utah’s public lands. We educated their staff about the problems we are seeing with these travel plans, and in response they introduced the Historic Roadways Protection Act.

The bill restricts the BLM from using any funds to continue reviewing or implementing these plans until certain lawsuits are resolved where the state of Utah is contesting ownership of the roads. Hundreds of miles of these contested roads have already been closed. The bill specifically applies to all of the travel plans that have been completed and several others that are still under review.

We expected the legislation would be a tough sell in the previous Congress, and would also be threatened by a veto from President Biden. However, last year the bill was re-introduced and is now going to be voted on. We need everyone to contact their Senators, especially if they sit on the ENR committee and encourage to support this crucial legislation. Over the past several years our members have stood up for this legislation, sending in thousands of emails supporting this bill. We need to continue building this momentum! Do not delay! The hearing is tomorrow! You can find a timeline of the Act below the form.

Timeline of the Historic Roadways Protection Act:

October 26, 2023: The Historic Roadways Protection Act was first introduced into Congress by Sen. Lee (UT). It was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

September 28, 2023: Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges travel management plan was published and signed, closing 317 miles.

November 13, 2023: This legislation was introduced by Rep. Curtis (UT) into the US House of Representatives.

June 12, 2024: The legislation has a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

December 31, 2024: The San Rafael Swell travel management plan was published and signed closing 665 miles of roads.

January 14, 2025: The Historic Roadways Protection Act was reintroduced into Congress in the House of Representatives, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kennedy (UT) with several cosponsors and in the Senate, sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (UT) with Sen. John Curtis (UT) as a cosponsor. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for review and possible amendment.

January 17, 2025: The Henry Mountains/Fremont Gorge travel management plan was signed and released closing 612 miles of roads.

December 2, 2025: The public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee received testimony on a broad slate of pending bills including the Historic Roadways Protection Act.

February 4, 2026: The Historic Roadways Protection Act will be voted on in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing and business meeting.

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