S. 2637 · Where this bill is now
Became law through another bill
Its text was included in H.R. 187, Public Law 119-62 (per the Congressional Research Service). This bill number itself: In committee.
See H.R. 187 on Congress.gov ↗
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStandardizes access info for federal waterways
The Forest Service and Department of the Interior would create unified standards for how they collect and share information about public access to federal waterways and fishing rules. Within five years, they'd put maps and data online showing where people can fish, boat, and access federal waters, keeping that information updated regularly. The departments would also let people ask questions or give feedback about the access and restriction information.
How it affects you
If you fish, boat, or recreate on federal waterways, this makes it easier to find out where you're allowed to go and what the current rules are. Right now that information is scattered across different government databases, so this bill would pull it together in one accessible place online.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jul 31, 2025)
Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 or the MAPWaters Act of 2025
This bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to public's access to federal waterways for recreational use.
Specifically, the Forest Service and Interior must jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for data collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor recreational access of federal waterways and federal fishing restrictions. The standards must ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable federal databases with respect to collection and dissemination of such data.
Within five years, the Forest Service and Interior must also digitize and make publicly available online certain geographic information system data about (1) federal waterway restrictions, (2) federal waterway access and navigation information, and (3) federal fishing restrictions. They must also update the data about waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information at least twice per year. Data about fishing restrictions must be updated in real time as changes go into effect.
Finally, the Forest Service and Interior must develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data regarding waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information.
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 SessionS. 2637
A BILL
MAPWaters Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) · Introduced Jul 31, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 31, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S5001)”