Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act of 2021
Key claim: The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to retain ski area permit rental fees within the National Forest System to fund local permit administration, recreation improvements, visitor services, and wildfire risk reduction.
Abstract
(S1964 · 117th Congress) Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act of 2021 This bill allocates ski area permit rental charges for ski area administration, improvements, visitor services, and wildfire preparedness. Such charges are collected by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from ski area operators on National Forest System land. USDA shall expend 80% of the ski area permit rental charges from a National Forest System unit at that unit in accordance with the following: 75% shall be used at the unit for activities such as administration of the ski area permit program, visitor information, or reducing the likelihood of wildfire in or adjacent to a recreation site; and 25% shall be used at the unit for activities such as repair of a Forest Service-owned facility, habitat restoration, or search and rescue activities. The remaining 20% of ski area permit rental charges shall be expended by USDA for any of the activities specified in this bill at any National Forest System unit. Latest action (2022-01-19): Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 253.
Why this matters
The proposal would dedicate ski area permit revenue to National Forest recreation management and wildfire risk reduction, linking permitted commercial recreation to funding for public-land services and infrastructure. For renters, buyers, and residential builders, the finding identifies no direct housing-finance, zoning, or development-permission change; its relevance is federal land management. The finding documents introduction, not implementation or demonstrated outcomes.