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H.R. 187 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
MAPWaters Act of 2025
Introduced Jan 3, 2025 · Became law
What does this mean?

The Forest Service and Interior Department (the agencies that manage national forests, parks, and other federal lands) would have to create standardized, publicly available online maps and data showing where people can legally access federal rivers, lakes, and other waterways for activities like boating and fishing, along with any fishing restrictions that apply. This is meant to fix the current problem where such information is scattered, inconsistent, or hard to find across different federal databases. The agencies have five years to digitize and publish this data, must update access and navigation information at least twice a year and fishing rules in real time, and must let the public submit questions or comments about what's posted. Anyone who fishes, boats, or otherwise recreates on federal waterways would be the main group affected, since they'd gain an easier way to check where they're allowed to go and what rules apply before heading out.

Read the official CRS summary on Congress.gov →
Bill Lifecycle
Real action history from Congress.gov — where this bill is in the process, and every recorded step along the way.
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2025
Referred to Committee
Jan 3, 2025
Passed House
Jan 21, 2025
Received in Senate
Jan 22, 2025
Passed Senate
Dec 16, 2025
Presented to President
Dec 18, 2025
Signed by President
Dec 26, 2025
Became Law
Dec 26, 2025
Full action history (18)
Jan 3, 2025Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 3, 2025Introduced in House
Jan 21, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 21, 2025On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 0 (Roll no. 19). (text: CR H238-239)
Jan 21, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 0 (Roll no. 19). (text: CR H238-239)
Jan 21, 2025Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H250-251)
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