US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act

118th Congress · Approved Jan 4, 2025 · 138 Stat. 2836

An Act

To improve recreation opportunities on, and facilitate greater access to, Federal public land, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa­tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short Title; Table of Contents.

(a)
Short Title.— This Act may be cited as the “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act” or the “EXPLORE Act”.
(b)
Table of Contents.— The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

TITLE I— OUTDOOR RECREATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Subtitle A— Outdoor Recreation Policy

Sec. 111. Congressional declaration of policy.

Sec. 112. Identifying opportunities for recreation.

Sec. 113. Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation.

Sec. 114. Recreation budget crosscut.

Subtitle B— Public Recreation on Federal Recreational Lands and Waters

Sec. 121. Biking on long-distance trails.

Sec. 122. Protecting America’s rock climbing.

Sec. 123. Range access.

Sec. 124. Restoration of overnight campsites.

Sec. 125. Federal interior land media.

Sec. 126. Cape and antler preservation enhancement.

Sec. 127. Motorized and nonmotorized access.

Sec. 128. Aquatic resource activities assistance.

Subtitle C— Supporting Gateway Communities and Addressing Park Overcrowding

Sec. 131. Gateway communities.

Sec. 132. Improved recreation visitation data.

Sec. 133. Monitoring for improved recreation decision making.

Subtitle D— Broadband Connectivity on Federal Recreational Lands and Waters

Sec. 141. Connect Our Parks.

Sec. 142. Broadband internet connectivity at developed recreation sites.

Sec. 143. Public lands telecommunications cooperative agreements.

Subtitle E— Public–Private Parks Partnerships

Sec. 151. Authorization for lease of forest service administrative sites.

Sec. 152. Partnership agreements creating tangible savings.

Sec. 153. Partnership agreements to modernize federally owned campgrounds, resorts, cabins, and visitor centers on Federal recreational lands and waters.

Sec. 154. Parking and Restroom opportunities for Federal recreational lands and waters.

Sec. 155. Pay-for-performance projects.

Sec. 156. Outdoor recreation legacy partnership program.

Sec. 157. American battlefield protection program enhancement.

TITLE II— ACCESS AMERICA

Sec. 201. Definitions.

Subtitle A— Access for People With Disabilities

Sec. 211. Accessible recreation inventory.

Sec. 212. Trail inventory.

Sec. 213. Trail pilot program.

Sec. 214. Accessible trails.

Sec. 215. Accessible recreation opportunities.

Sec. 216. Assistive technology.

Sec. 217. Savings clause.

Subtitle B— Military and Veterans in Parks

Sec. 221. Promotion of outdoor recreation for military servicemembers and veterans.

Sec. 222. Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation Liaisons.

Sec. 223. Partnerships to promote military and veteran recreation.

Sec. 224. National strategy for military and veteran recreation.

Sec. 225. Recreation resource advisory committees.

Sec. 226. Career and volunteer opportunities for veterans.

Subtitle C— Youth Access

Sec. 231. Increasing youth recreation visits to Federal land.

Sec. 232. Every Kid Outdoors Act extension.

TITLE III— SIMPLIFYING OUTDOOR ACCESS FOR RECREATION

Sec. 301. Definitions.

Subtitle A— Modernizing Recreation Permitting

Sec. 311. Special recreation permit and fee.

Sec. 312. Permitting process improvements.

Sec. 313. Permit flexibility.

Sec. 314. Permit administration.

Sec. 315. Service First Initiative; Permits for multijurisdictional trips.

Sec. 316. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management temporary special recreation permits for outfitting and guiding.

Sec. 317. Reviews for long-term permits.

Sec. 318. Adjustment of allocated visitor-use days.

Sec. 319. Liability.

Sec. 320. Cost recovery reform.

Sec. 321. Availability of Federal, State, and local recreation passes.

Sec. 322. Online purchases and establishment of a digital version of America the Beautiful—The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes.

Sec. 323. Savings provision.

Subtitle B— Making Recreation a Priority

Sec. 331. Extension of seasonal recreation opportunities.

Subtitle C— Maintenance of Public Land

Sec. 341. Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Lands Act.

Sec. 342. Reference.

Subtitle D— Recreation Not Red Tape

Sec. 351. Good neighbor authority for recreation.

Sec. 352. Permit relief for picnic areas.

Sec. 353. Interagency report on special recreation permits for underserved communities.

Sec. 354. Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act amendments.

Sec. 355. Savings provision.

SEC. 2. Definitions.

In this Act:
(1)
Federal land management agency.— The term “Federal land management agency” has the meaning given the term in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801).
(2)
Federal recreational lands and waters.— The term “Federal recreational lands and waters” has the meaning given the term in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801).
(3)
Gateway community.— The term “gateway community” means a community that serves as an entry point, or is adjacent, to a recreation destination on Federal recreational lands and waters or non-Federal land at which there is consistently high, in the determination of the Secretaries, seasonal or year-round visitation.
(4)
Indian tribe.— The term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(5)
Land use plan.— The term “land use plan” means—
(A)
a land use plan prepared by the Secretary pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712); and
(B)
a land management plan prepared by the Forest Service for a unit of the National Forest Service pursuant to section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).
(6)
Secretaries.— The term “Secretaries” means each of—
(A)
the Secretary; and
(B)
the Secretary of Agriculture.
(7)
Secretary.— The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.
(8)
Secretary concerned.— The term “Secretary concerned” means—
(A)
the Secretary, with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; or
(B)
the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to land managed by the Forest Service.
(9)
State.— The term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the United States.