# What the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act Does

This bill provides funding to help landowners open their private property to the public for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation. The government will pay landowners to allow people to access their land, creating more opportunities for regular folks to enjoy outdoor activities without having to own property themselves.

The bill sets aside $150 million over five years (2025-2029) to run this voluntary program. Landowners who participate get paid by the government in exchange for letting the public use their land for things like hunting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife watching. It's completely voluntary—no landowner has to participate if they don't want to. The program is designed to be a win-win: landowners get compensated for sharing their land, and people who don't own property get access to outdoor spaces they otherwise couldn't use.

An additional $3 million of that funding is specifically earmarked to encourage public access to wetland areas that are already protected under a separate conservation program. This focuses on working with state and tribal governments to make sure these wetland areas are accessible to hunters, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. The bill essentially reauthorizes and funds a program that already exists, making sure it continues and has the money it needs to operate through 2029.

Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025

Dingell, Debbie

Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and increases funding for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program&nbsp;(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.