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119-s-704119th Congress

Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Daines, Steve [R-MT]

Introduced

Summary

Would reauthorize through FY2029 and expand funding for voluntary public access to privately held farm, ranch, and forest land for hunting, fishing, and wildlife-dependent recreation. It would provide $150 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation for FY2025–2029 and aim to use $3 million to encourage public access to lands under wetland reserve easements.

Show full summary
  • State and tribal governments would get competitive grants to build programs that encourage private landowners to allow public access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching.
  • Private landowners of farms, ranches, and forests could receive incentives and support from those state or tribal programs to open land for recreation.
  • Hunters, anglers, and wildlife recreationists would likely gain more places to access private lands for outdoor recreation.
  • The bill specifically targets wetland reserve easement lands by directing up to $3 million to agreements that encourage public access.

*Would increase mandatory Commodity Credit Corporation funding by $150 million for FY2025–2029, including $3 million targeted to wetland reserve easement access.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Federal funds for public habitat access

This bill would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to use $150 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation for fiscal years 2025 through 2029. Those funds would carry out the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. To the maximum extent practicable, $3 million of that money would be used for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to encourage public access to lands under wetland reserve easements. That public access would be encouraged through agreements with States and tribal governments.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Daines, Steve [R-MT]

MT • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 7/29/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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