America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023

# Summary of the Recreation and Public Land Management Act This comprehensive legislation establishes new regulations and improvements for managing recreation on public lands, with a focus on special recreation permits, filming rights, and community access. ## Key Provisions ### Special Recreation Permits for Outfitting and Guiding - **Transitional permits**: 2-year permits for new or additional outfitting/guiding services - **Long-term permits**: 5-10 year permits for successful providers (requiring 2 transitional permits, satisfactory performance, and 50% use of allocated days) - **Visitor-use day management**: Allows surrender of unused days for temporary reassignment - **Permit adjustments**: Based on performance reviews (125% increase for satisfactory performance, up to 100% for less satisfactory) - **Online applications**: Mandated for submission within 3 years of enactment ### Permit Process Improvements - **Simplified processing**: Elimination of duplicative processes and reduced costs - **Environmental reviews**: Utilization of tiering to existing programmatic reviews - **Exemptions**: No needs assessments required for permit issuance - **Group permits**: Special recreation permits for organized group activities with nominal effects ### Filming and Photography Regulations - **De minimis use authorization**: For groups of 6-8 people meeting specific criteria - **No permits required**: For small groups (under 6 people) meeting requirements - **No fee**: For de minimis use authorizations - **Permit required**: For groups over 8 people or activities not meeting criteria ### Volunteer Program Enhancements - **Amended Volunteers in the National Forests Act** to include Bureau of Land Management - **Promotion of volunteer opportunities**: To supplement projects carried out by Secretaries - **No liability insurance required**: For volunteers participating under the program ### Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program - **Grants for land acquisition**: To create or enhance access to parks in urban areas - **Priority for underserved communities**: Projects engaging and empowering underserved communities - **Matching requirement**: 100% cash or in-kind match (waivable in certain circumstances) - **Eligible uses**: Outdoor recreation facilities and park development in qualifying areas ### Other Provisions - **Cost recovery reform**: For special recreation permit administration - **Liability provisions**: Insurance requirements and exculpatory agreements - **Aquatic resource assistance**: For vessel inspections and decontamination - **Recreation budget crosscut**: Annual report on outdoor recreation funding This legislation aims to streamline recreation management, improve access to public lands, support community engagement, and modernize permitting processes across federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture.