The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act or the EXPLORE Act details various initiatives to enhance outdoor recreation on federal lands, improve accessibility for people with disabilities, support military personnel and veterans, increase youth access to outdoor activities, and streamline the recreation permitting process to make outdoor experiences more available and enjoyable for everyone. It covers improving infrastructure, protecting natural resources, enabling public-private partnerships, and using technology to connect and modernize recreation spaces.

In this section, the bill defines several terms used throughout the document. These terms include definitions for various governmental entities and concepts such as "Federal land management agency," "gateway community," "Indian Tribe," and roles like "Secretary" and "Secretaries," among others, detailing who they refer to and the context of their use.

Congress states that its policy is to promote and support recreation on federal lands and waters, as long as it aligns with existing laws and management plans for those areas.

The section outlines a requirement for the government to inventory and evaluate recreation resources on federal lands and waters, with public input and regular updates. It highlights the need to recognize unique recreation areas, assess their maintenance and development suitability, and use existing research where possible, while also making amendments to existing legal codes.

The bill establishes a Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation to improve coordination among various federal agencies concerning outdoor recreation activities. The council will be made up of representatives from different agencies, have rotating leadership, and be tasked with addressing issues such as recreation management, public health emergencies, and technological advancements on federally managed lands and waters.

The Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation is established to bring together representatives from various federal agencies to coordinate and improve outdoor recreation activities. This Council will address topics like policy coordination, public health responses, technology management, economic impact research, and enhancing public access to recreation, all while ensuring participation from state and local agencies.

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget must submit a report to Congress and make it available online within 30 days after each fiscal year, starting with 2025. This report needs to detail the total funding spent on outdoor recreation by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture in the previous year.

The bill section outlines a plan for the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to identify and develop long-distance bike trails, ensuring public input and minimization of conflicts with existing trail uses. It prohibits the use of eminent domain, describes criteria for these trails, and emphasizes the collaboration with stakeholders to promote and maintain the trails.

The section outlines that within 18 months, guidance for recreational rock climbing on certain federal lands must be created to ensure all activities comply with applicable laws. It recognizes that rock climbing, including the use of fixed anchors, is suitable within wilderness areas if it follows the Wilderness Act and any conditions set by relevant authorities. Additionally, it includes guidelines for existing routes and requires public input before finalizing the guidance.

The section outlines guidelines for the establishment and management of target shooting ranges on National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands. It requires the assessment of existing and potential locations for shooting ranges, ensures safety and minimal conflict with other recreational uses, and involves coordination with various government and non-government entities to facilitate their development and operation.

The section outlines the Secretary of Agriculture's responsibilities for establishing overnight campsites in the Ouachita National Forest. Within specified timeframes, the Secretary must identify potential camping areas, open existing campsites that meet certain criteria, set up at least 27 new campsites with facilities like electric and water hookups, and ensure these are outside flood-prone areas, while also making year-round day-use areas accessible to the public.

The section outlines the rules for filming and taking photographs on federal lands. It explains when permits and fees are needed, describes activities that are exempt from permits, details how to apply for permits via the web or in person, and specifies requirements to protect natural and cultural resources during such activities.

The section outlines the rules for filming and taking photos in national parks or "System units." It explains when permits and fees are required, introduces a simple authorization process for small groups, and emphasizes that activities should not harm the environment or disturb other visitors. Additionally, it specifies that the Secretary has the authority to deny activities that could cause damage or pose safety risks.

The law outlines rules for filming and photography on federal lands, stating that no permit or fees are required for small groups or incidental activities unless laws require them. It establishes a simple authorization process for slightly larger groups, requires permits with fees for larger projects, and prioritizes protecting natural resources and minimizing disruptions to public enjoyment of these lands.

The law is being updated to expand what can be removed from an animal, not just its meat, when it comes to cape and antler preservation. The term now includes meat and any other parts of an animal.

The section mandates that the Secretary concerned must, within specific timeframes, create and update various types of maps for public or administrative use related to motorized and nonmotorized access on Federal lands. These include transportation linear feature maps and over-snow vehicle-use maps, ultimately aiming to enhance access opportunities while maintaining lawful use as per existing laws.

This section outlines definitions and authorities related to managing aquatic nuisance species on federal lands and waters. It authorizes federal agencies to perform inspections and decontaminations of vessels, coordinate efforts with various partners, and establishes a grant program for Reclamation States to support these activities.

The section requires government officials to work with local groups to address challenges faced by gateway communities, like housing and infrastructure issues, while promoting diverse tourism experiences. They can provide financial and technical support, and form partnerships to help local businesses manage increased visitor numbers.

The bill section requires the creation of a unified system to report annual and real-time visitation data for Federal recreational lands and waters, including lands held in trust for Indian Tribes. It involves establishing a pilot program to provide real-time data and promote nearby lesser-known sites, with input from local communities and partnerships with organizations. The bill ensures privacy by prohibiting the monitoring of visitors and mandates annual reports to categorize visitor activities.

The section outlines that the Secretaries—leaders in departments like the Forest Service, NOAA, and the Army Corps of Engineers—must collect detailed recreation use data to help them make better decisions. Within one year, they need to set up test projects at various locations to better track all types of recreational activities.

In Section 141 of the bill, the Secretary of the Interior is required to assess and plan for improving internet and cellular service in National Parks. The assessment will identify areas with the greatest need for these services, and a plan will be developed to install the necessary infrastructure, while minimizing the impact on park resources and involving local stakeholders and Indian Tribes in the process.

The legislation requires the Secretary and the Chief of the Forest Service to collaborate with the Secretary of Commerce to improve internet access by installing broadband infrastructure at federal recreation sites. They must prioritize sites with geographic challenges or low permanent populations but high visitation, and those in economically distressed areas, while making information on costs and barriers publicly available annually through 2031.

The section allows the Secretary of the Interior to form cooperative agreements for managing communication sites on federal lands, with the same power granted to the Secretary of Agriculture for Forest Service lands. It also mandates a study on the potential benefits of using rental fees from these sites to fund related activities.

The text amends the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to update the rules for leasing Forest Service administrative sites. Changes include expanding eligible dwelling types, altering leadership references from the “Secretary” to the "Chief of the Forest Service, or their designee," detailing off-site services that benefit the National Forest System, setting lease terms up to 100 years with reauthorization conditions, and extending certain dates from 2023 to 2028.

The text outlines the amendments to Section 101703 of title 54, United States Code, which allow the Secretary to enter agreements with eligible entities like states or tribes for the cooperative management of lands near a System unit. It details how goods and services can be exchanged, how employees may be assigned, and covers the possibility of co-locating offices while also defining terms like "eligible entity" and "Indian Tribe."

The section allows the Secretary to create cooperative management agreements with eligible entities, such as states, local governments, or Indian Tribes, to help manage land and water near a System unit more effectively. It also clarifies that the Secretary can share resources, co-locate offices, and assign employees for cooperative management, but cannot transfer the administration responsibilities of a System unit.

The section outlines a pilot program where federal land secretaries can make agreements with eligible entities, such as state, local, or tribal governments, nonprofits, and private businesses, to manage and improve federally owned campgrounds, resorts, cabins, and visitor centers. These agreements, which could last up to 30 years, allow the entities to invest in and maintain these facilities, with a requirement to contribute at least $500,000, while ensuring that all structures remain federal property.

The section of the bill aims to enhance parking and restroom facilities on federal recreational lands and waters. The Secretaries are tasked with improving parking by partnering with non-federal entities and improving restroom quality and availability by collaborating with various governments and organizations, with a report on restroom facilities due to Congress in two years.

The section outlines the establishment of a pilot program by the Secretary of Agriculture for pay-for-performance projects, which involve partnerships between governments, organizations, and investors to fund projects on National Forest System land with the expectation of achieving specific outcomes. It details the roles of different stakeholders, financial arrangements, evaluation processes, and the conditions for agreements, with the program's authority set to expire seven years after enactment.

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program allows the Secretary to provide grants to eligible entities for acquiring land and developing outdoor recreation facilities in certain areas. The program prioritizes projects that enhance access to parks, engage low-income communities, and establish partnerships, with a requirement for matching funds and restrictions on how the grants can be used.

The section enhances the American Battlefield Protection Program by updating definitions, expanding eligibility for preservation and restoration grants to various entities like States, Tribes, and nonprofits, and mandates periodic updates to Congress on preservation efforts and condition changes of Revolutionary, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefields.

The section provides definitions for terms used in the chapter, specifying that "Secretary" refers to the Secretary overseeing the American Battlefield Protection Program, and "Battlefield Reports" refer to two specific government documents about Civil War and Revolutionary War sites.

The section requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress updating the Battlefield Reports every 10 years, starting 2 years after this section is enacted. The report must include information about preservation activities, changes in the condition of the battlefields, and other relevant developments during the reporting period.

In this section, several terms are defined to clarify their meanings within the context of the bill: An accessible trail is one that follows specific accessibility guidelines; the Architectural Barriers Act accessibility guidelines set these standards; assistive technology refers to tools or equipment that help people with disabilities, especially in outdoor activities; a Gold Star Family member is someone defined in a specific Department of Defense document; outdoor constructed feature aligns with a federal regulation definition; and a veterans organization offers outdoor recreation services to military personnel, veterans, and Gold Star Family members.

The section requires the Secretary concerned to conduct a comprehensive assessment of outdoor recreation facilities on federal lands to determine how accessible they are for people with disabilities, within five years of the enactment of this title. This includes evaluating various facilities like campgrounds, boat ramps, and picnic areas, making accessibility information available online, and updating public signage within seven years.

The section outlines that within 7 years of the law's enactment, the Secretary in charge must assess and provide public information on high-priority trails on federal lands, focusing on their physical characteristics, current assessments, and accessibility for people with disabilities. This includes potentially updating trail signage and information and exploring how assistive technology can help make these trails accessible.

The section mandates the Secretary to launch a 7-year pilot program within two years after the title's enactment, partnering with eligible entities to assess and develop accessible trails, and modify existing trails to enhance recreational experiences for people with disabilities. The pilot will be implemented in at least five locations, including areas managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The section mandates that within a year of the title's enactment, the Secretary must develop at least three new accessible trails on lands managed by various federal agencies, ensuring compliance with relevant disability access laws. The process includes stakeholder consultation, conflict avoidance with existing land uses, and completion within seven years, with interim and final reports to be published showcasing the trails developed.

The bill section requires the Secretary in charge to develop accessible recreation opportunities like camping, skiing, and kayaking on federal lands, ensuring they meet accessibility laws. This includes consulting with stakeholders, minimizing conflicts with existing land uses, and publishing progress reports within specific time frames.

The Secretary is allowed to form partnerships or agreements with other entities to provide assistive technology on Federal recreational lands and waters. These entities can include Federal, State, Tribal, local, or private organizations, as well as existing outfitting and guiding services.

The section states that nothing in this part of the bill should be understood to create any conflicting rules with either the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 or section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The section requires the development of educational resources within two years to inform military servicemembers and veterans about free access to federal recreational lands, accessible trails and recreation opportunities, assistive technology, volunteer programs, and other outdoor activities that enhance physical and mental health. It also includes information about various programs and jobs related to outdoor services, provided in coordination with different departments like Defense, Veterans Affairs, Interior, and Agriculture.

The section establishes the position of Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation Liaison within several federal departments, including Veterans Affairs. Their duties include coordinating outdoor recreation initiatives for veterans, collaborating with other agencies and organizations, and promoting innovative ways for veterans to enjoy federal recreational lands to improve their health and wellness.

The section mandates that the Secretary concerned should form partnerships with various entities to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities for military members and veterans. These partnerships can involve organizing events and providing financial or technical support for activities and equipment aimed at improving outdoor access and experiences.

The section requires the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation to create a strategy within one year to increase visits to federal recreational areas by members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star Family members. This strategy should include goals, public feedback opportunities, and cost estimates, and must be updated every five years without favoring noncommercial over commercial recreation.

The section amends parts of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to increase the number of members in a recreation resource advisory committee from 11 to 12 and requires that the committee must now include a representative from veterans organizations. It also changes the number of members required to form a quorum from eight to six.

The section encourages the hiring of veterans for positions related to managing Federal recreational lands and waters, and establishes a pilot program to employ veterans in conservation and resource management roles in the Department of the Interior. It also includes requirements for briefings and a report on the program's effectiveness and urges military departments to allow active-duty members to join environmental programs.

The section requires the Secretaries to develop a public strategy within two years to increase youth visits to Federal recreational lands, focusing on underserved youth and setting measurable goals. The strategy must be updated every five years, and the Secretaries can make contracts or agreements to support this initiative.

The Every Kid Outdoors Act is being updated to allow free admission for kids for a 12-month period starting on a flexible date chosen by the Secretaries, instead of a fixed date each year. The deadline for the act has also been extended to September 30, 2031.

The section defines key terms related to the National Park System, including "commercial use authorization" for providing services to park visitors, "multijurisdictional trip" involving multiple federal lands, and "special recreation permit" and "visitor-use day" as outlined in federal recreation laws.

The section revises the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to update definitions, streamline permit processes, and modify fee structures for special recreation permits on federal land, including how these fees are determined, disclosed, and used, while also reauthorizing the Act until 2031.

The section aims to streamline the process for obtaining special recreation permits on federal lands by evaluating and simplifying current procedures, reducing costs, and making applications available online. It also sets guidelines for organized group activities, including conditions under which permits may not be required or when fees might be waived, aiming to ensure minimal environmental impact and maintain safety standards.

The section defines guidelines for holders of special recreation permits to engage in similar recreational activities and outlines criteria for what constitutes a "substantially similar" activity, ensuring no greater harm to natural resources or other users. It also provides a process for recreation service providers to surrender unused visitor-use days for temporary reassignment, and clarifies that the section does not alter existing regulations on electric bicycle use on Federal lands.

The section describes procedures for making recreation permits available on federal lands. It mandates that if visitor-use days are available, this information must be published online, provides email notifications for potential applicants, and requires timely acknowledgments and decisions on permit applications, but does not apply to National Park Service concession contracts.

The section allows the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to collaborate on a "Service First Initiative," improving efficiency by sharing resources and possibly co-locating offices. It also mandates a pilot program to streamline permits for recreational trips crossing multiple jurisdictions, ensuring that participating agencies maintain their enforcement authority.

The section mandates that within 180 days, the relevant Secretary must create a program to issue temporary special recreation permits for new or additional recreational activities on lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management for up to two years. If a permit holder shows satisfactory performance, the temporary permit may be converted to a long-term one, without affecting existing authority under federal law.

The Secretary must monitor recreation service providers with special permits to ensure they follow the permit's terms, reviewing them at least annually for short-term permits and every two years for long-term permits. Additionally, if the Secretary allocates visitor-use days for these permits, they must review the providers’ use of these days every five years, considering unused days as partially or fully used depending on circumstances beyond the provider's control.

In this section, the bill outlines how the number of visitor-use days for recreation service providers can be adjusted based on their performance. The Secretary of Agriculture or another appropriate official may increase or decrease these days depending on the provider's recent performance review, temporarily reassign unused days, and allocate additional days if there is extra capacity available.

The section outlines liability rules for special recreation permits and commercial use authorizations, including insurance requirements for holders based on activity risk levels, exceptions for low-risk activities, indemnity limitations for states, and guidelines on exculpatory agreements. It clarifies that the rules do not apply to concession contracts issued by the National Park Service.

The section outlines that the Secretary can charge a fee for processing, issuing, and monitoring special recreation permits to cover administrative costs, with exceptions for minor administrative costs and when multiple permits are processed together. It ensures costs cannot be charged for programmatic environmental reviews and encourages using existing resources to lower costs and workload.

The amendment to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act proposes the creation of a program to make it easier for people to buy Federal, State, and local outdoor recreation passes in a single transaction. This program aims to coordinate the sale of these passes, ensuring that funds from the sales go to the appropriate government agencies at each level.

The section outlines a program encouraging Federal, State, and local governments to collaborate so that people can buy recreation passes at all levels in one transaction. It also allows for agreements that ensure the funds from pass sales go to the correct government agency and are settled by the end of each fiscal year.

The bill section outlines plans for the Secretaries to sell National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes online and establish a digital pass by 2026 that can be stored on mobile devices, providing free and discounted options. It also allows online payment for entrance, amenity, and special recreation permit fees that will be distributed following specific guidelines.

This section clarifies that the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to award concessions contracts and commercial use authorizations for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuges and National Park Service units remains unaffected by the subtitle, except for certain specified sections which will apply to these commercial use authorizations.

The bill section discusses extending recreational opportunities on federal lands during off-seasons. It defines "seasonal closure" as times when such lands are closed for 30 days or more and sets guidelines for coordinating with local stakeholders to potentially extend open seasons, thus boosting local economies while complying with federal laws.

The Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Lands Act allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to engage volunteers to assist with various tasks related to forest and land management. Volunteers, while not considered federal employees, are covered under certain federal employee protections for things like work injuries and personal property damage.

This section states that the act can be referred to as the "Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Lands Act."

The purpose of this Act is to involve volunteers in projects managed by the Secretaries to support the missions of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, using government funds.

In this section, the term "Secretaries" refers to the Secretary of Agriculture, who works through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the Secretary of the Interior, who operates through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

The Secretaries have the authority to recruit and accept individuals to work as volunteers without pay for activities like recreation access, trail work, facility maintenance, and educational programs. They are encouraged to consider volunteer referrals from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The section allows the Secretaries to cover certain incidental expenses. This includes costs for transportation, uniforms, lodging, training, equipment, and food while carrying out their duties.

Volunteers under this Act are generally not considered Federal employees for most legal purposes except in specific situations such as tort claims, work injuries, and claims related to personal property damage. In those cases, they are treated as Federal employees, and the Act specifies the conditions under which volunteers operate, including supervision, safety standards, and training.

The Secretaries are responsible for encouraging people to volunteer in the areas they manage.

The section states that the Secretaries cannot require cooperators or volunteers to have liability insurance in order to perform the volunteer services allowed by this Act.

Any mention of the Volunteers in the National Forests Act of 1972 in U.S. laws or documents should now be understood as referring to the Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Land Act.

The Good Neighbor Authority for Recreation section allows the Secretary of Agriculture or Interior to partner with states, Indian Tribes, and counties to improve recreational facilities on federal and other lands. Through these agreements, financial or technical assistance can be provided, and revenue from activities like timber sales can be used to fund these enhancements, with such authority effective until October 1, 2028.

The text states that if a permit or reservation is not generally required for the public to access picnic areas on lands managed by the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management, then a "covered person" such as those providing outfitting and guiding services to fewer than 40 customers per year, also does not need a permit just to access these picnic areas.

The section requires a joint report by U.S. Secretaries about special recreation permits for underserved communities, such as low-income or underrepresented groups, within three years. The report should cover topics like usage of permits, partnerships for accessing federal recreational lands, engagement in these areas, obstacles for recreation service providers, and suggestions to improve access.

The amendments to the Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act change how terms are used: "public outdoor recreational use" is updated to "recreation sites," certain restrictions are now described as "regulated or closed" instead of "permanently restricted or prohibited," and the responsibility is shifted from "the Secretary of the Interior" to "the Secretaries," with "may" changed to "shall" to imply a stronger directive.

The provision states that no extra federal funds will be provided to implement this Act, and any activities allowed by this Act can only proceed if previously allocated money is available.