H.R. 1614House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Range Access Act

Introduced March 17, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:57 AM UTC

The Range Access Act directs the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to create and manage public target shooting ranges on National Forest and BLM lands. Within a year they must publish which lands have or lack such ranges and why. Within five years they must build or upgrade at least one suitable range in each eligible area, following safety standards and without charging users. The law also requires stakeholder consultation and annual reporting.

Key Provisions

  • Define “target shooting range” as a Forest Service or BLM‑run area for firearms, archery, and related activities.
  • Within 1 year, the secretaries must list every forest and BLM district that has or lacks a compliant range and explain any legal or planning barriers.
  • Identify at least one suitable location for a new range in each forest/district where no barrier exists, considering existing shooter use and nearby recreation.
  • By 5 years, construct a new range or upgrade an existing one at each identified site, meeting safety design standards (berms, buffer zones, firing line, benches) and allowing rifles, pistols, shotguns, and optionally archery, without charging users.
  • Manage ranges with safety conditions and keep them open unless an emergency requires closure; ensure a range is available before closing other federal lands to shooting.
  • Require consultation with local, tribal, state, and shooting‑sport groups and allow partnerships to share construction and maintenance costs.
  • Submit annual progress reports to the relevant congressional committees through FY 2033.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.

April 19, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 17, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

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.

March 17, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

March 22, 2023

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

March 28, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.

April 19, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1614 on the floor

1 Republican
Monica De La Cruz
Rep. Monica De La CruzR-TX-15 · Sep 12, 2023

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions, as follows: H.R. 16: Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Magaziner, Mr. Casten, Mr. Casar, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Caraveo, and Mr. Sablan. H.R.…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 17, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1614

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 17, 2023

Mr. Moore of Utah (for himself and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill; which was 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

A BILL

To facilitate the creation of designated shooting ranges on National Forest System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management for the public to use for recreational target shooting, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Range Access Act.

2.

Target shooting ranges

(a)

Definition of target shooting range

In this section, the term target shooting range means a developed and managed area that is authorized or operated by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management specifically for the purposeful discharge by the public of legal firearms, firearms training, archery, or other associated activities.

(b)

Assessment; Identification of Target Shooting Range Locations

(1)

Assessment

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall make available to the public a list that—

(A)

identifies each National Forest and each Bureau of Land Management district that has a target shooting range that meets the requirements described in paragraph (3)(B);

(B)

identifies each National Forest and each Bureau of Land Management district that does not have a target shooting range that meets the requirements described in paragraph (3)(B); and

(C)

for each National Forest and each Bureau of Land Management district identified under subparagraph (B), provides a determination of whether applicable law or the applicable land use plan prevents the establishment of a target shooting range that meets the requirements described in paragraph (3)(B).

(2)

Identification of target shooting range locations

(A)

In general

The Secretary concerned shall identify at least 1 suitable location for a target shooting range that meets the requirements described in paragraph (3)(B) within each National Forest and each Bureau of Land Management district with respect to which the Secretary concerned has determined under paragraph (1)(C) that the establishment of a target shooting range is not prevented by applicable law or the applicable land use plan.

(B)

Requirements

The Secretaries, in consultation with the entities described in subsection (d), shall, for purposes of identifying a suitable location for a target shooting range under subparagraph (A)—

(i)

consider the proximity of areas frequently used by recreational shooters;

(ii)

ensure that the target shooting range would not adversely impact a shooting range operated or maintained by a non-Federal entity, including a shooting range located on private land; and

(iii)

consider other nearby recreational uses to minimize potential conflict.

(3)

Establishment of new target shooting ranges

(A)

In general

Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, at 1 or more suitable locations identified on each eligible National Forest and each Bureau of Land Management district under paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary concerned shall—

(i)

subject to the availability of appropriations, construct a target shooting range that meets the requirements described in subparagraph (B) or modify an existing target shooting range to meet the requirements described in subparagraph (B); or

(ii)

enter into an agreement with an entity described in subsection (d)(1), under which the entity shall establish or maintain a target shooting range that meets the requirements described in subparagraph (B).

(B)

Requirements

A target shooting range established under this paragraph—

(i)
(I)

shall be able to accommodate rifles, pistols, and shotguns; and

(II)

may accommodate archery;

(ii)

shall include appropriate public safety designs and features, including—

(I)

significantly modified landscapes, including berms, buffer distances, or other public safety designs or features;

(II)

a designated firing line; and

(III)

benches;

(iii)

may include—

(I)

shade structures;

(II)

trash containers;

(III)

restrooms; and

(IV)

any other features that the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary; and

(iv)

may not require a user to pay a fee to use the target shooting range.

(C)

Recreation and public purposes Act

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned may consider a target shooting range that is located on land transferred pursuant to the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act) (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578; 43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), as a target shooting range that meets the requirements described in subparagraph (B).

(c)

Restrictions

(1)

Management

The management of a target shooting range shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary concerned determines are necessary for the safe, responsible use of—

(A)

the target shooting range; and

(B)

the adjacent land and resources.

(2)

Closures

Except in emergency situations, the Secretary concerned shall seek to ensure that a target shooting range that meets the requirements described in subsection (b)(3)(B), or an equivalent shooting range adjacent to a National Forest or Bureau of Land Management district, is available to the public prior to closing Federal recreational lands and waters administered by the Chief of the Forest Service or the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to recreational shooting, in accordance with section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 7913).

(d)

Consultations

(1)

In general

In carrying out this section, the Secretaries shall consult, as applicable, with—

(A)

local and Tribal governments;

(B)

nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations, including organizations that are signatories to the memorandum of understanding entitled Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Sports Roundtable Memorandum of Understanding and signed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management on August 17, 2006;

(C)

State fish and wildlife agencies;

(D)

shooting clubs;

(E)

Federal advisory councils relating to hunting and shooting sports;

(F)

individuals or entities with authorized leases or permits in an area under consideration for a target shooting range;

(G)

State and local offices of outdoor recreation;

(H)

State and local public safety agencies; and

(I)

the public.

(2)

Partnerships

The Secretaries may—

(A)

coordinate with an entity described in paragraph (1) to assist with the construction, modification, operation, or maintenance of a target shooting range; and

(B)

explore opportunities to leverage funding to maximize non-Federal investment in the construction, modification, operation, or maintenance of a target shooting range.

(e)

Annual reports

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through fiscal year 2033, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the progress made with respect to the implementation of this section.

(f)

Savings clause

Nothing in this section affects the authority of the Secretary concerned to administer a target shooting range that is in addition to the target shooting ranges that meet the requirements described in subsection (b)(3)(B) on Federal recreational lands and waters administered by the Secretary concerned.