Welcome to BHA's State Policy Spotter – a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting our wild public lands, waters and wildlife across North America.

Note: The Policy Spotter is not a comprehensive list of legislation or issues that BHA chapters are working on, but rather a spotlight in the moment of what is moving. There are many more bills and issues BHA's chapters are grappling with, so be sure to check out individual chapter pages for more news and updates.

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April 2026

New Economic Report Highlights Risks of Federal Land Transfer. News

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and partners released a new economic report examining the fiscal impacts associated with transferring federal public lands in Idaho to state ownership. The report, prepared by Peterson Associates, estimates that such a transfer could create an annual funding shortfall of up to $837.7 million, with broader economic impacts including lost jobs, reduced wages, and diminished state and local tax revenue. The findings reinforce longstanding concerns that land transfer proposals could jeopardize public access, fish and wildlife habitat, and Idaho’s outdoor recreation economy.

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Alaska: Tongass Forest Plan Revision Opens Critical Public Input Window. News

The U.S. Forest Service has entered a pivotal new phase in revising the Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan, opening a major opportunity for sportsmen and women to help shape the future of the nation’s largest national forest. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) process is now underway, and public input will directly influence how the Tongass is managed for decades to come. For BHA, the core issue is clear: fish and wildlife must remain the foundation of the Tongass plan revision. The Tongass supports globally significant salmon systems, critical Sitka black-tailed deer habitat, and world-class hunting and fishing opportunities across Southeast Alaska. BHA is urging the Forest Service to elevate salmon-bearing watersheds as a primary driver of future management, strengthen watershed-scale protections, and better integrate science-based deer habitat and young-growth restoration strategies into the final alternatives. The chapter is also raising concerns about cumulative impacts from road building, timber activity, and habitat fragmentation. Maintaining intact landscapes and functionally connected watersheds will be essential to sustaining salmon runs, deer populations, and the public access opportunities that hunters and anglers depend on.

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Michigan: Michigan's Rivers Are at a Crossroads. News.

The Michigan Chapter is actively defending public access and river health amid two critical dam decisions: opposing the 30-year relicensing of the privately owned Boyne River dam due to restricted access and documented water quality harm that has halted state trout stocking, and urging the Michigan Public Service Commission to require permanent, legally enforceable public access protections for the 32,000 acres of land associated with 13 hydroelectric dams proposed for sale to private equity, ensuring that boat launches, fishing spots, and trailheads remain open for future generations.

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Idaho: Mixed Session Brings Public Lands Wins & Wildlife Governance Setbacks. News

Idaho’s 2026 legislative session delivered a mixed bag for sportsmen and women, with key wins for public lands and conservation alongside significant policy setbacks. Idaho BHA helped advance SJM 111, reaffirming that public lands belong in public hands, and supported continued investment in wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity, but the session also saw passage of bills that shift wildlife governance further into the political sphere and weaken long-standing enforcement tools relied upon by conservation officers. Together, the outcomes underscore both the momentum behind public lands advocacy in Idaho and the growing need to defend science-based wildlife management and effective public trust enforcement.

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New York:  Chapter Opposes Bill to Industrialize Protected Forests. News

The New York Chapter opposes Senate Bill S4408A, which would allow industrial energy transmission easements across state Reforestation Areas, lands conserved for wildlife, watersheds, and public recreation. While amended to prohibit siting renewable energy projects directly on these lands, the bill still permits transmission corridors that could fragment habitat and undermine hunting and fishing access. The chapter is advocating for stronger safeguards, including no net loss of public access, prohibitions on permanent habitat fragmentation, and a requirement to prioritize already-disturbed land for energy infrastructure. 

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Oregon: 1.25% for Wildlife Bill Passes. News

Oregon BHA is celebrating a landmark conservation win with the passage of H.B. 4134, a long-fought bill that will generate roughly $38 million annually for fish, wildlife, and habitat through a modest increase in the state transient lodging tax. Set to take effect January 1, 2027, the bill creates durable, dedicated conservation funding for priorities including habitat, wildlife connectivity, anti-poaching enforcement, invasive species response, and implementation of Oregon’s science-based conservation plans.

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Utah: Legislative Session Recap. News

The 2026 Utah legislative session brought a mix of important conservation wins and ongoing public lands concerns. Legislation supporting wildlife crossings, wetlands study, habitat expansion, and stronger anti-poaching enforcement was signed into law, advancing habitat connectivity and access opportunities for hunters and anglers across the state. At the same time, the passage of H.B. 546 marks another attempt to advance state control over federally managed public lands, reinforcing the need for continued vigilance in protecting the multiple-use framework and public access traditions that define Utah’s hunting and angling heritage.

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Rhode Island: BHA Defends Landmark Shoreline Access Law in State Supreme Court. News

The New England Chapter’s Rhode Island Team, after years of advocacy that led to the passage of a landmark shoreline access law in 2023, is now defending that victory in court. Following immediate legal challenges from private property interests, BHA has filed a joint amicus curiae brief with the Surfrider Foundation, urging the Rhode Island Supreme Court to uphold the law. The brief details the state's constitutional shoreline rights and argues the law provides needed certainty for both the public and landowners. The chapter continues to monitor the case and will pursue all avenues to protect this critical public access.

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