HR 187
Became law
Requires the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation to standardize and publish online maps and data on where recreational boating, fishing, and other waterway access is open, closed, or restricted.
Official title: MAPWaters Act of 2025
Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions
House
Introduced
03-JAN-2025
Referred
03-JAN-2025
Passed
21-JAN-2025
Senate
Received
22-JAN-2025
Passed
16-DEC-2025
President
Presented
18-DEC-2025
Signed
26-DEC-2025
Became law
26-DEC-2025
- Requires agencies to adopt shared data standards within 30 months so federal waterway and fishing-restriction databases can work together.
- Requires agencies to digitize and post online, within 5 years and to the maximum extent practicable, data on boat ramps, seasonal closures, motor and vessel restrictions, and fishing restrictions.
- Requires updates to access and restriction data at least twice a year and to fishing-restriction data in real time as changes take effect, and creates a public comment process.
- Does not change the definition of navigable waters, state or federal authority over fisheries, or the accessibility of waters open to hunting, fishing, or recreation.
Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Public Law, 26-DEC-2025).
CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov- Agriculture Committee (House)
- Natural Resources Committee (House)
- Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Senate)
Public Lands and Natural Resources
■ 2 D■ 1 R
2 Democrats
1 Republican