Amodei’s land sale amendment removed from reconciliation bill

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Amendment to sell Nevada public lands removed from bill after closed-door meeting

July 7, 2025

An amendment proposed by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, to sell over 450,000 acres of public land in Nevada has been removed from the reconciliation bill following a closed-door meeting.

The land, managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service, was located in Washoe, Lyon, Pershing and Clark counties.

“A few months ago, we were given an opportunity by the House Natural Resources Committee and House leadership to help alleviate land constraints faced by Nevada’s communities,” said Rep. Mark Amodei. “While the House reconciliation bill ultimately did not end up including my lands amendment, the fight is far from over. I will continue to push for the responsible management of underused lands in Nevada and ensure our state’s future is no longer jeopardized by excessive federal land ownership.”

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nevada, had pledged to push for the removal of the amendment during a House Rules Committee hearing on the reconciliation bill. She was joined by U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke from Montana, who helped lead the charge among Republicans.

“The Republican budget bill already forces states to deal with billions of dollars in federal cuts to Medicaid, as well as to education, food, and housing assistance programs,” Titus said in a statement. “The Amodei amendment would have created an additional burden on taxpayers who would have ultimately had to front the costs of infrastructure improvements needed for developments in distant areas.”

Recent polling indicates that 90% of Nevadans utilize nearby public lands, with a majority prioritizing conservation and recreation over economic uses like housing and warehouse developments.

Nevadans expressed that public lands should primarily serve to keep air and water clean (90%), conserve natural areas for future generations (84%), provide wildlife habitats (83%), protect historic sites (82%), and offer outdoor recreation (82%).

Conservation groups applauded the removal of Amodei’s amendment, which they said blindsided the public and would have set a precedent for selling federally-managed land without any input.

“Nevadans and the outdoor community across the country showed that support for public lands is still a bi-partisan issue,” said Russell Kuhlman, executive director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation. “We are thankful to the organizations, businesses and individuals that utilized the only way to voice that support during this process by engaging with their House Representatives and asking them to keep public lands in public hands.”