Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 704

119th Congress

Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 25, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Steve Daines

Senator

Republican

MT

Cosponsors

4

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Summary

This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and increases funding for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. The program provides grants to encourage private landowners to allow public access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife recreation.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and increases funding for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. The program provides grants to encourage private landowners to allow public access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife recreation.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025This 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.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Reauthorizes VPA-HIP through FY2029
Increases program funding
Supports public access to private lands
Covers hunting, fishing, recreation
Includes wetland reserve easements

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Hunters and anglers would have expanded access to private lands. Landowners would receive incentives to allow recreational access. Wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities would increase.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

704, 119th Congress (2025). "Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-704