🚨Action Alert: Federal Trail Funding & State Liability Policy

Everything is happening at once—and your voice is needed to protect the future of Oregon’s trails! Here is some info with action items to support Recreational Liability/Waiver Reform at the State Level and Federal Trails Funding:

Recreational Liability/Waiver Reform is Back— SB 1196-1

We’ve just learned that work on recreational liability reform is back on the table this session! A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning, June 12th, on SB 1196 with the -1 amendment, which supports the enforceability of liability waivers for outdoor recreation providers. This is vital to keeping nonprofit and small business recreation programs alive and affordable in Oregon.

🖊️ Submit Written Testimony in Support of SB 1196-1 Here 📄 Read Our Testimony 📧

Federal Trails Funding Slashed in President’s FY26 Budget

The President’s proposed FY26 budget (Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service), recently sent to Congress, proposes drastic cuts to trails. In a devastating blow to the nation’s trails, the President’s proposed FY26 budget includes deep cuts to trail programs across multiple federal agencies, including:

• 60% cut to U.S. Forest Service trail maintenance

• Elimination of $6M for Legacy Roads and Trails

• Zero funding for BLM National Scenic and Historic Trails

• $900M cut to National Park Service operations

• Attack on permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

👉 Contact Congress Now – Tell Them to Reject These Cuts

Sample Message:

I am asking you to reach out to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House/Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to voice these concerns. If you’re a member of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I am asking you to ensure our nation's trails, including the National Trails System, are fully funded with the necessary direction by Congress.  The President’s proposed FY26 budget, recently sent to Congress, proposes drastic cuts to trails. The Forest Service will face trail funding cuts of at least 48%, funding for the BLM National Scenic and Historic Trails line item has been eliminated, and the overall National Park Service budget has been cut by over a billion dollars, including $900 million for park service operations, which funds trails.  < Add details about how these cuts would impact your local trail or community> It is now more important than ever for Congress to ensure its role in appropriating funding and provide clear and direct guidance on how this funding should be used. Report language and bill text is critical to ensure that the trail line items below are funded at an appropriate level and congressional direction is followed. The recommendations in the attached letters are supported by over 250 organizations and nearly 100 Members of Congress.  Additionally, the President’s budget proposes to dismantle the overwhelmingly bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act and renege on its promise to the American people. The budget attempts to eviscerate the law by proposing to divert funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund -- America’s best conservation and recreation program -- further threatening our National Parks, forests, and wildlife areas and jeopardizing the recreation access to them that America’s sportsmen, families, and communities need. This proposal must be rejected. The trails community has benefited from LWCF since its creation to complete our nation’s trails system from coast to coast. Congress must and should continue to address the deferred maintenance backlog, but the way to do that is by extending the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund and not by looting the LWCF. The trails community and all trail and outdoor users nationwide are looking to your leadership to ensure that these places remain open and accessible to the American people. 

Together, We Can Protect Oregon’s Trails

This is a moment for the trail community to raise our voices. Whether you walk, ride, roll, paddle, or care about protecting access to the outdoors for all, we need your help today. Share these alerts, contact your legislators, and help us keep Oregon’s trails funded, accessible, and thriving. Thank you for being a trail champion!