Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act

The Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act would change how ski area permit fees are handled on National Forest System lands. Currently, these fees collected from ski operators go to the federal government. Under this bill, the forests where the fees are generated would keep the majority of that revenue to spend on local priorities.

If enacted, the bill would require that 60-48 percent of collected fees be spent on activities like administering the ski permit program, providing visitor information, or reducing wildfire risk near recreation areas. An additional 20 percent would go toward repairing Forest Service facilities, restoring wildlife habitat, or funding search and rescue operations. Any remaining fees could be used by the Department of Agriculture at any National Forest for similar purposes. This approach would give individual forests more control over how ski-related revenues benefit their local communities and operations.

The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the Senate, though it has not yet been enacted into law.