H.R. 1565 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Agriculture, Feb 25, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBoosts funding for public land access program
This bill extends and increases funding for a federal program that encourages private landowners to open up their property for public hunting, fishing, and wildlife activities. The program gives grants to state and tribal governments, which then work with farm, ranch, and forest owners to set up these public access opportunities. It also extends the same kind of funding to help protect and open up wetland areas.
How it affects you
If you hunt, fish, or enjoy wildlife activities, this means more private land could become available for you to use. Landowners who participate get incentives to allow public access, so you might have new places to recreate on what would otherwise be off-limits property. Farm and ranch owners in states with active programs have the chance to earn money by sharing their land with the public.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 25, 2025)
Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025
This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and increases funding for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). This Natural Resources Conservation Service program provides state and tribal governments competitive grants to encourage owners and operators of privately-held land (i.e., farm, ranch, and forest land) to allow public access for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation.
The bill also reauthorizes through FY2029 VPA-HIP funding to encourage public access to land covered by wetland reserve easements through agreements with states and tribal governments.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1565
A BILL
Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) · Introduced Feb 25, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 28, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.”