Bill > HB641

This bill, known as the Trails and Tails Act, mandates that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) conduct two comprehensive studies: one by the Division of Parks and Watercraft to evaluate the creation and expansion of all-purpose vehicle and side-by-side riding opportunities, which will include assessments of terrain, environmental and economic impacts, safety, public use, economic development, and infrastructure needs, with specific focus on Shawnee, East Fork, and Salt Fork State Parks; and another by the Division of Wildlife to assess the feasibility of reintroducing elk into Ohio's state forests and wildlife areas, which will involve evaluating habitat suitability, ecological and disease risks, logistics of sourcing and relocating elk, and long-term management and monitoring strategies. Both studies are required to include public meetings and comment periods, and a final report detailing findings, cost estimates, and recommendations must be submitted to the General Assembly and Governor by December 30, 2028. The act also appropriates $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to fund these studies, with $2,000,000 allocated for the trail study and $1,000,000 for the elk reintroduction study, and any unexpended funds from fiscal year 2026 are reappropriated for fiscal year 2027.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb641