Skip to main content
S 3123 118th Congress Senate Public Lands and Natural Resources Congressional oversight Geography and mapping Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Hunting and fishing Land use and conservation Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Marine and inland water transportation Navigation, waterways, harbors Outdoor recreation

Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act

Introduced: October 25, 2023 Introduced by: Barrasso, John Republican · Wyoming See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 19, 2024
Received in the House.
Dec 19, 2024
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 18, 2024
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7145; text: CR S7145-7146)
Dec 18, 2024
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 21, 2024
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 595.
Nov 21, 2024
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Nov 19, 2024
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 12, 2024
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-394.
Oct 25, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Oct 25, 2023
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act

This bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data on public access to federal waterways for recreational use.

Specifically, the Forest Service and Interior must jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for the collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to federal fishing restrictions and public recreational use of federal waterways. The standards must ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable federal databases with respect to the collection and dissemination of such data.

Within five years of the bill's enactment, the Forest Service and Interior must also digitize and make publicly available online, as applicable, certain geographic information system data about (1) federal waterway restrictions, (2) federal waterway access and navigation information, and (3) federal fishing restrictions. Data on waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation must be updated at least annually, and data on fishing restrictions must be updated in real time as changes take effect.

Finally, the Forest Service and Interior must develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments about waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation.

What's happening now December 19, 2024

Received in the House.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 6127 Related bill MAPWaters Act
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Independent 1
I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Oct 25, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3123: Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-3123/
MLA
"S. 3123: Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-3123/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3123, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-3123/.
Markdown link
[S. 3123: Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-3123/)
Report a problem