Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act

Senate Bill

S. 472

119th Congress

Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 6, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Ron Johnson

Senator

Republican

WI

Cosponsors

13

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary

This bill creates a special Treasury account to hold fees collected from ski resorts that operate on National Forest land. The money would be used to manage ski area permits, process applications for new ski areas or improvements, train staff, provide visitor services, and conduct wildfire prevention work near ski areas.

Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

SponsorRon Johnson (R-WI)

Introduced2/6/2025

StatusCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act

This bill creates a special Treasury account to hold fees collected from ski resorts that operate on National Forest land. The money would be used to manage ski area permits, process applications for new ski areas or improvements, train staff, provide visitor

Community Breakdown

Pass

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Fail

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This bill creates a special Treasury account to hold fees collected from ski resorts that operate on National Forest land. The money would be used to manage ski area permits, process applications for new ski areas or improvements, train staff, provide visitor services, and conduct wildfire prevention work near ski areas.

Bill Number: 472
Sponsor: Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Introduced: 2/6/2025
Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Policy Area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act
Bill Number: 472
Sponsor: Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Introduced: 2/6/2025
Summary: This bill creates a special Treasury account to hold fees collected from ski resorts that operate on National Forest land. The money would be used to manage ski area permits, process applications for new ski areas or improvements, train staff, provide visitor services, and conduct wildfire preventio

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill creates a special Treasury account to hold fees collected from ski resorts that operate on National Forest land. The money would be used to manage ski area permits, process applications for new ski areas or improvements, train staff, provide visitor services, and conduct wildfire prevention work near ski areas.

Last updated: 3/5/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

The bill establishes a Ski Area Fee Retention Account where rental fees paid by ski resorts operating on National Forest land would be deposited.
Eighty percent of fees collected from a specific forest would be spent at that same forest, with 75% going to ski area administration and 25% to other permitted uses.
The remaining 20% of fees could be used at any National Forest location for similar purposes.
Funds would support processing permit applications, training staff, providing visitor information and signage, and planning for wildfire prevention near ski areas.
Money deposited in the account would remain available for four years and could be used without requiring additional congressional approval.

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill primarily affects the U.S. Forest Service and ski resorts that operate on National Forest land under special permits. It would allow the Forest Service to retain and directly use the fees it collects from ski areas, rather than sending that money to the general Treasury, potentially speeding up permit processing and improving services at ski areas and surrounding forest lands. Visitors to National Forest ski areas could benefit from improved services and wildfire safety measures funded by these retained fees.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Subjects

Emergency planning and evacuation

Fires

Forests, forestry, trees

Government trust funds

Licensing and registrations

Outdoor recreation

Parks, recreation areas, trails

Sports and recreation facilities

User charges and fees

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

472, 119th Congress (2025). "Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-472