Bill > HB2905

This bill, known as the "Natural Resource and Community Protection Act," significantly alters how federally managed lands within Missouri are governed by asserting state control and requiring federal agencies to obtain state consent for land acquisition and new regulations, with exceptions only for those explicitly excluded by the U.S. Constitution. It mandates that federal agencies consult with affected communities through public hearings before acquiring land and declares federal regulations conflicting with state natural resource laws unenforceable unless explicitly authorized by Congress, while granting primary authority for enforcing natural resource laws to state and local law enforcement. The bill also outlines specific procedures for federal enforcement actions, requiring coordination with state or local law enforcement, prior written approval from local chiefs, and peace officer standards and training certification for federal officers issuing citations or making arrests for minor offenses, with violations leading to penalties and the return of unlawfully seized property. Furthermore, it stipulates that revenues generated from activities on federally managed lands will be shared, with 70% going to the state for local projects, transportation improvements, and economic development, and asserts state control over surface and groundwater, mineral rights, and wildlife management, requiring federal agencies to obtain state permits for water use and approval for resource extraction. A "State-Federal Dispute Resolution Board" will be established to mediate conflicts, and the bill declares all navigable rivers and streams available for public use, imposes an annual property tax on federally managed lands to benefit local governments, and allows residents or local governments to sue federal agencies for violations. Finally, it modifies existing provisions regarding concurrent jurisdiction on federal lands, restricting federal officers from pursuing or arresting individuals for violations outside federal property without an agreement and requiring state and county commission approval for road closures, deeming previously closed roads open to public use.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2905&year=2026&code=R