# 119-s-759: Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act

119-s-759, Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX); status became_law (as of 2026-10-14).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-759
- As of: 2026-10-14
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-759
- Congress: 119
- Title: Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2025-02-26
- Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-14

## Summary

**Creates public, standardized maps of fishing restrictions and vessel access across U.S. federal waters.** The law directs the Department of Commerce to set data standards, publish GIS layers within 4 years, and keep the data interoperable and updated for public and agency use. - Families and recreational boaters get clear, online maps showing areas open or closed to recreation, motorized-propulsion and vessel-type rules, and access in the exclusive economic zone. Those GIS layers must be published within 4 years and kept current. - Fisheries managers, scientists, states, and partners gain interoperable geospatial data to coordinate rules and enforcement. Agencies must maintain updates at least twice yearly for some layers and provide real-time updates for others. - Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations retain treaty and other rights. The law excludes Tribal waters and "usual and accustomed" Tribal fishing areas and bars disclosure of sensitive cultural or proprietary commercial fishing information.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-02-26T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Public ocean maps for boaters and anglers: benefit, medium. The law creates a public GIS website for the U.S. exclusive economic zone. Within 4 years, it shows fishing closures, vessel and engine limits, and areas open or closed to recreation. It lists marine protected areas and allowed activities, and keeps navigation and depth data easy to find and reuse.…
- Protections for Tribal rights and sensitive data: benefit, low. The law does not publish Tribal waters or usual and accustomed Tribal fishing areas. It keeps Tribal treaty rights, agency powers over navigable waters, and required government-to-government consultation in place. It blocks online release of sensitive historic, cultural, or archaeological site deta…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-4668: Protect College Sports Act of 2026
- 119-s-2975: PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025
- 119-s-278: Kids Off Social Media Act

## Sources
- [119-s-759 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/759)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-524)
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-4668: Protect College Sports Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4668)
- [119-s-2975: PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2975)
- [119-s-278: Kids Off Social Media Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-278)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-759 (as of 2026-10-14).