Yesterday marked one year since the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act became law. The legislation, described as bipartisan, was designed to improve access and recreation opportunities on public lands across the United States.
Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) commented on the anniversary: “I’m proud to have championed the EXPLORE Act, which was first-of-its-kind outdoor recreation legislation designed to expand access and recreation opportunities on our beautiful public lands and waters. I am thrilled to see all the ways it has enhanced Americans’ enjoyment of the outdoors a year after its passage. As we enter America’s 250th year, I encourage every American to get outside and explore all that our public lands and waters have to offer.”
The EXPLORE Act addressed several areas related to outdoor activities. It improved access for sportsmen and women by establishing new target shooting ranges. The act also aimed to modernize technology for visitors by increasing broadband connectivity in recreational areas and creating digital passes for easier entry.
For small businesses operating on public lands, the act streamlined permitting processes and reduced associated fees. It also included provisions to protect rock climbing locations, develop new long-distance bike trails, restore campgrounds, and update infrastructure.
Additional measures supported communities near public lands by addressing housing shortages and outdated facilities. The act sought to make outdoor spaces more accessible for military service members, veterans, people with disabilities, and children.
The EXPLORE Act was introduced in late November 2023 by Chairman Westerman along with the late U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalva. It passed unanimously in both chambers of Congress—first in the House of Representatives in April 2024, then in the Senate in December 2024—and was signed into law in January 2025.
