I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1614 
To facilitate the creation of designated shooting ranges on National Forest 
System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Man-
agement for the public to use for recreational target shooting, and 
for other purposes. 
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 provi-
sions 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 adminis-
tered by the Bureau of Land Management for the public 
to use for recreational target shooting, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Range Access Act’’. 
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SEC. 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 oper-
ated by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment specifically for the purposeful discharge by the public 
of legal firearms, firearms training, archery, or other asso-
ciated 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 con-
cerned 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 re-
quirements 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 Bu-
reau of Land Management district identified 
under subparagraph (B), provides a determina-
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tion of whether applicable law or the applicable 
land use plan prevents the establishment of a 
target shooting range that meets the require-
ments described in paragraph (3)(B). 
(2) IDENTIFICATION
OF
TARGET
SHOOTING 
RANGE LOCATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary con-
cerned shall identify at least 1 suitable location 
for a target shooting range that meets the re-
quirements described in paragraph (3)(B) with-
in 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 sub-
section (d), shall, for purposes of identifying a 
suitable location for a target shooting range 
under subparagraph (A)— 
(i) consider the proximity of areas fre-
quently used by recreational shooters; 
(ii) ensure that the target shooting 
range would not adversely impact a shoot-
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ing 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 SHOOT-
ING 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 eligi-
ble National Forest and each Bureau of Land 
Management district under paragraph (2)(A), 
the Secretary concerned shall— 
(i) subject to the availability of appro-
priations, construct a target shooting 
range that meets the requirements de-
scribed 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 re-
quirements described in subparagraph (B). 
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(B) REQUIREMENTS.—A target shooting 
range established under this paragraph— 
(i)(I) shall be able to accommodate ri-
fles, pistols, and shotguns; and 
(II) may accommodate archery; 
(ii) shall include appropriate public 
safety designs and features, including— 
(I) significantly modified land-
scapes, including berms, buffer dis-
tances, 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 
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shooting range that is located on land trans-
ferred pursuant to the Act of June 14, 1926 
(commonly known as the ‘‘Recreation and Pub-
lic 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 tar-
get shooting range shall be subject to such condi-
tions as the Secretary concerned determines are nec-
essary for the safe, responsible use of— 
(A) the target shooting range; and 
(B) the adjacent land and resources. 
(2) CLOSURES.—Except in emergency situa-
tions, the Secretary concerned shall seek to ensure 
that a target shooting range that meets the require-
ments 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 rec-
reational lands and waters administered by the Chief 
of the Forest Service or the Director of the Bureau 
of Land Management to recreational shooting, in ac-
cordance with section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, 
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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 organi-
zations, including organizations that are sig-
natories to the memorandum of understanding 
entitled ‘‘Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing, and 
Shooting Sports Roundtable Memorandum of 
Understanding’’ and signed by the Forest Serv-
ice 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 
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(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 fund-
ing to maximize non-Federal investment in the 
construction, modification, operation, or main-
tenance 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. 
Æ 
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