Joshua Tree Expansion Act

Summary#

This act would expand the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park to include approximately 20,149 acres shown on a map dated June 2024 (map number 156/193,676). Administrative jurisdiction over that land would transfer from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service. The Secretary of the Interior may acquire land or interests in land within the new boundary by donation, purchase from a willing seller, exchange, or transfer. Land owned by the State of California or its political subdivisions may be acquired only by donation or exchange. The bill also makes a technical correction to a map reference in a previous law. Finally, the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree would be redesignated the "Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center," and federal references to that visitor center would use the new name.

What it means for you#

• The official boundary of Joshua Tree National Park would grow by about 20,149 acres shown on the referenced map.
• Visitors may see a larger park area and a renamed visitor center called the Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center.
• Private landowners inside the new boundary could have their land acquired only by donation, purchase from a willing seller, exchange, or transfer; state or local government land could be acquired only by donation or exchange.
• The bill text does not describe immediate changes to services, access, or management details beyond the jurisdiction transfer and acquisition authorities.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated federal costs, acquisition costs, or budgetary effects is included in the bill text or provided metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.