To amend title 54, United States Code, to prohibit the extension or establishment of national monuments in Arizona except by express authorization of Congress, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The "Protecting Arizona from Federal Land Grabs Act" removes the President's authority to unilaterally create or expand national monuments in Arizona using the Antiquities Act. Instead, any new or expanded national monuments in Arizona would require explicit Congressional approval. This mirrors an existing restriction that already applies to Wyoming.
Who Benefits and How
Mining, oil and gas, and ranching companies operating on federal lands in Arizona would benefit by facing less risk of sudden federal land protections that could restrict their operations. Real estate developers near federal lands would also benefit by having fewer concerns about unexpected monument designations affecting land values or development opportunities. The Arizona Congressional delegation gains more control over federal land decisions within their state.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Conservation and environmental groups lose an important tool for protecting Arizona's natural and cultural sites, as Presidential monument designations have historically been faster than Congressional action. Federal land management agencies like the Interior Department and Bureau of Land Management would face additional Congressional approval requirements, making their work more complex. Indigenous tribes with cultural sites on federal lands may find it harder to secure protections for sacred areas. The President loses authority to act quickly on conservation priorities.
Key Provisions
- Amends 54 U.S.C. § 320301(d) to add Arizona alongside Wyoming as states where Presidential authority under the Antiquities Act is restricted
- Requires express Congressional authorization for any new national monuments in Arizona
- Requires Congressional authorization for expanding the boundaries of existing national monuments in Arizona
- Takes effect upon enactment with no grace period
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Requires Congressional authorization for any new or expanded national monuments in Arizona, mirroring existing restrictions on Wyoming.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Limit Presidential authority under the Antiquities Act by requiring Congressional approval for Arizona national monuments, similar to Wyoming's existing restriction"
Likely Beneficiaries
- Arizona state government (increased state influence over federal land designations)
- Mining, ranching, and extractive industries operating on federal lands in Arizona
- Development interests seeking access to federal lands
- Arizona Congressional delegation (enhanced authority)
Likely Burden Bearers
- Executive branch/President (reduced unilateral authority)
- Conservation and environmental groups
- Federal land management agencies (Interior Department, BLM, Forest Service)
- Indigenous tribes with cultural sites on federal lands in Arizona
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "congress"
- → United States Congress
- "the_president"
- → President of the United States (via 54 USC 320301(a))
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest on federal land that may be proclaimed by the President under the Antiquities Act
No extension or establishment of national monuments in Wyoming may be undertaken except by express authorization of Congress (existing law being amended to add Arizona)
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology