Luján, Neguse Introduce Legislation to Safeguard Local Input on Public Lands Oil and Gas Leases

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) introduced the Local Input Act. This bicameral bill seeks to protect the right of local communities to provide input into proposed oil and gas lease sales on national public lands and would restore the Department of the Interior's discretion to incorporate public comments and defer nominated parcels that conflict with the public interest.

The bill's introduction comes at a critical moment for the country, particularly for communities in the American West. Changes enacted by Congress in 2025 effectively stripped local communities, landowners, and state and local officials of a meaningful voice in leasing decisions on public lands by eliminating the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) authority to defer lease parcels even if legitimate conflicts are identified, including when proposed leases threaten water supplies, wildlife habitat, hunting and fishing, recreation, tourism, and cultural resources. The Department of the Interior is also currently proposing changes to the BLM's oil and gas leasing rule that would further reduce public input in this process to a mere 10-day protest period.

"In New Mexico and across the country, our public lands belong to the people, and everyone deserves a meaningful voice in how they are managed," said Senator Luján. "That's why I'm introducing the Local Input Act, commonsense legislation that ensures local communities are not sidelined when decisions affecting their water, lands, livelihoods, and way of life are made. I'm proud to partner with Representative Neguse on this bill and will continue fighting to ensure every voice is heard when it comes to managing our public lands."

"In Colorado, we've seen the value of giving local communities a seat at the table. From farmers and ranchers to conservationists, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and Tribal communities, the people who live, work, and recreate on these lands should have a meaningful say in how they're managed. That's why I'm proud to introduce the Local Input Act. Together with Senator Luján, we're working to put public lands back in public hands," said Congressman Neguse.

The Local Input Act is a common-sense, targeted fix that restores balance, accountability, and community input to the management of America's public lands. It reestablishes the Bureau of Land Management's authority to meaningfully consider public feedback and defer oil and gas lease parcels when legitimate conflicts are identified, reversing unintended consequences created by Congress. By ensuring that local communities, landowners, hunters, anglers, ranchers, Tribal Nations, and other stakeholders once again have a meaningful voice in public lands decisions, the bill helps protect water supplies, wildlife habitat, tourism and recreation, private property rights, ranching and grazing operations, and other economic, ecological, and cultural values that are vital to Western communities.

The bill is endorsed by Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Conservation Colorado, Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, Montana Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Nevada Conservation League, Nevada Wildlife Federation, New Mexico Voices for Children, New Mexico Wild, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Nuestra Tierra, Public Land Solutions, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Save The Aurora Reservoir, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Trout Unlimited, Western, Colorado Alliance, The Wilderness Society, Wilderness Workshop, Wild Montana.

Statements of support can be found HERE.

View the full bill text HERE.

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