H.R. 10217 – Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area Act

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Updated September 3, 2026 at 2:51 AM UTC

The Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area Act amends the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to officially create a new National Heritage Area in Kentucky. It defines the area’s geographic scope, appoints the Center for Rural Development to manage it, and establishes a timeline for a management plan and the duration of federal assistance.

Key Provisions

Adds the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area to the National Heritage Area System, covering 34 counties in Kentucky.
Designates the Center for Rural Development as the local coordinating entity for the heritage area.
Requires the coordinating entity to submit a management plan to the Secretary of the Interior within three years of the law’s enactment.
Sets a 15‑year limit on the Secretary of the Interior’s authority to provide assistance for the heritage area.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

September 1, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 1, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

September 1, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 1, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10217

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 1, 2026

Mr. Rogers of Kentucky introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to designate as a component of the National Heritage Area System the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area in the State of Kentucky, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area Act.

2.

Designation of Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area

(a)

Designation

Section 6001(a) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116–9; 133 Stat. 768; 136 Stat. 6163) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(14)

Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area

(A)

In general

There is established the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area in the State of Kentucky, to consist of Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe Counties, Kentucky.

(B)

Local coordinating entity

The Center for Rural Development shall be the local coordinating entity for the National Heritage Area designated by subparagraph (A).

.

(b)

Management plan

For the purposes of section 6001(c) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116–9; 133 Stat. 772; 136 Stat. 6173), the local coordinating entity for the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area designated under the amendment made by subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of the Interior for approval a proposed management plan for the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c)

Termination of authority

For the purposes of subsection (g)(4) of section 6001 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116–9; 133 Stat. 776), the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance under that section for the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area designated under the amendment made by subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act.