S. 704 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 25, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExtends funding for public hunting and fishing access
This bill keeps a federal program running through 2029 that gives money to states and tribes to encourage private landowners to open their property for hunting, fishing, and wildlife recreation. It also extends the same program to help people access land that's been set aside to protect wetlands.
How it affects you
If you hunt or fish, this means more private land might be available to you through agreements with landowners in your state or tribe. Landowners who participate can receive payments for letting the public use their property for these activities.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, 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 SessionS. 704
A BILL
Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) · 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 Feb 25, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”