MAPWaters Act of 2025
Outdoor recreationists will gain access to standardized, free online maps showing rules and access points for federally managed lakes, rivers, and streams. Within five years, federal land and water agencies must publish digital data detailing boat ramps, seasonal closures, watercraft restrictions like horsepower limits and no-wake zones, and fishing rules such as gear restrictions and catch-and-release areas. The law requires agencies to update waterway navigation rules at least twice a year and fishing restrictions in real time, without changing existing fishing rights or state water jurisdictions.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Recreational boaters and anglersGain free, centralized public access to online GIS maps showing boat ramps, canoe portages, fishing access points, depth charts, watercraft restrictions, and real-time fishing rules under Sec. 4(a)-(c), as well as a formal public comment mechanism under Sec. 4(d).
- Commercial fishing operatorsGain access to standardized, publicly available digital maps showing the exact geographic boundaries of commercial fishing closures, no-take zones, and equipment restrictions under Sec. 4(c).
- Geospatial and technology contractorsAre explicitly authorized to enter into formal agreements, partnerships, or contracts with federal agencies to collect, digitize, and standardize geospatial waterway data under Sec. 5(a)-(b).
Who it burdens
- Federal land and water management agenciesMust jointly establish geospatial data standards within 30 months, digitize and publish free online maps of water access and restrictions within 5 years, update maps regularly, maintain a public feedback system, and submit annual progress reports to Congress through 2034 under Sec. 3, 4, and 6.
The provisions, in plain language.
Show all 9 provisions
Requires federal land and water agencies to digitize and publish free online maps within five years showing waterway rules, including seasonal closures, speed limits, no-wake zones, motor restrictions, and permitted types of watercraft.
Requires federal land and water agencies to digitize and publish free online maps within five years showing the locations and operating dates of boat ramps, canoe portages, fishing access points, and water depth charts.
Requires federal land and water agencies to digitize and publish free online maps within five years detailing commercial and recreational fishing restrictions, no-take zones, gear and bait rules, and catch-and-release areas.
Requires federal agencies to update waterway and access maps at least twice each year and to update fishing restriction maps in real time whenever rules change.
Requires the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service to create unified data standards within 30 months so federal databases can share digital mapping information on public water access and fishing restrictions.
Directs the agencies to establish a public feedback process where people can submit questions and comments about the published waterway and access data.
Exempts irrigation canals from mapping requirements and prohibits agencies from disclosing the locations of sensitive archaeological, historic, or fossil sites in the public mapping data.
Authorizes the agencies to partner with or hire state and tribal agencies, private mapping and technology companies, and the U.S. Geological Survey to collect, organize, and publish the required water data.
Requires the agencies to submit annual progress reports to relevant congressional committees through March 2034.
Requires federal land and water agencies to digitize and publish free online maps within five years showing waterway rules, including seasonal closures, speed limits, no-wake zones, motor restrictions, and permitted types of watercraft.
Requires federal land and water agencies to digitize and publish free online maps within five years showing the locations and operating dates of boat ramps, canoe portages, fishing access points, and water depth charts.
Requires federal land and water agencies to digitize and publish free online maps within five years detailing commercial and recreational fishing restrictions, no-take zones, gear and bait rules, and catch-and-release areas.
Requires federal agencies to update waterway and access maps at least twice each year and to update fishing restriction maps in real time whenever rules change.
How your members of Congress line up
How members voted on MAPWaters Act of 2025.
Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.
How it moved.
Show all 18 actions
- Became Public Law No: 119-62.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S8766-8768)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 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)
- Passed/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)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H250-251)
- At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 187.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H238-240)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Referred 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.
- Introduced in House
- Became Public Law No: 119-62.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S8766-8768)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 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)
- Passed/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)
- Introduced in House
Read it for yourself.
Sources & provenance
- Public Law 119-62
- primary source →
- primary source →
Cite this page
Civic Herald. “MAPWaters Act of 2025 (H.R. 187, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-187. Congress.gov record as of Jul 14, 2026.