The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio requires Department of Natural Resources to study elk reintroduction and side-by-side trail expansion with $3 million appropriation
Last action · February 4, 2026: Referred to Natural ResourcesSponsor: Justin Pizzulli
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
Ohio lawmakers require the Department of Natural Resources to conduct comprehensive feasibility studies on reintroducing elk to state forests and expanding trails, backed by a $3 million for 2026. The department must report its findings to the Governor and General Assembly by December 30, 2028.
Allocates state funds for environmental and economic feasibility assessments regarding motorized trail networks and wildlife reintroduction across public lands, involving public comment periods and local stakeholder engagement.
- The Ohio General Assembly is the state's bicameral legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. context
- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources oversees state parks, forests, wildlife management, and watercraft administration across public lands. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Natural Resources
Must conduct two comprehensive studies, hold public meetings, manage public comment periods, and submit a final report by December 30, 2028.
All-purpose vehicle associations
Invited to provide written input and participate in public comment periods regarding side-by-side trail expansion opportunities.
County commissioners and Farm bureaus
Required to be solicited for written input regarding trail expansion and elk reintroduction impacts.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What studies does the bill require the Department of Natural Resources to conduct?
How much funding is allocated for these studies, and when is it available?
When must the final report be submitted to state leaders?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 4, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Natural Resources
- Jan 12, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Formal Evaluation of Elk Reintroduction
The bill formally directs state wildlife officials to evaluate bringing elk back to Ohio state forests and wildlife areas.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment15Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools