US HB5134

Designates the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as the official "Designated Operational Partner" for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail within 1 year of enactment, with authority to extend this partnership model to other national historic and scenic trails

Establishes a cooperative management framework dividing responsibilities between federal agencies (administration), land managers (management), and partner organizations (operation) for national trail stewardship

Requires Designated Operational Partners to develop land and resource protection priority lists for trail corridors, with federal agencies required to prioritize these recommendations when using federal funds for land protection

Creates a formal process for Designated Operational Partners to request federal investigation and enforcement of property rights violations affecting trail resources, with potential reimbursement of litigation costs

Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026-2031 for visitor capacity planning, economic impact assessments of gateway communities, facility construction, and land acquisition for covered trails