This Act mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate the effectiveness, fairness, and data practices of federal reservation systems used for recreational activities on public lands.
Alejandro "Alex" Padilla
Senator
CA
The RESERVE Federal Land Act mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate current federal reservation systems for recreational activities on public lands. This review will analyze the history, effectiveness, and user experience of these systems, focusing on balancing visitor access with resource protection. The study must address key areas like access barriers, fee structures, data sharing, and system security. The findings will be reported to Congress within 18 months to inform future management strategies.
New Federal Land Bill Mandates 18-Month Study to Fix Broken Reservation Systems Like Recreation.gov
The RESERVE Federal Land Act isn’t changing the rules for your next camping trip today, but it’s kicking off a major review of the systems that make booking those trips feel like a lottery. Essentially, this bill mandates a deep dive into how the government handles reservations for federal lands—think the National Parks, National Forests, and lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Within 60 days of the bill passing, the Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, and the Army must hire the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct an 18-month, top-to-bottom study of these reservation platforms, which the bill broadly defines as any system used to control access, including permits, lotteries, and pricing structures (SEC. 2).
The Real Problem: Access Barriers and Bots
If you’ve ever tried to book a popular campsite or snag a permit for a bucket-list trail, you know the current system often feels opaque and unfair. This study is designed to address those exact pain points. The NAS is specifically tasked with looking at whether these systems create barriers for certain groups, including international visitors, and how well the agencies are currently balancing conservation needs with public access (SEC. 3). They need to figure out what data is missing—not just how many people are visiting, but who is trying to visit, and what their success rate is when applying for a spot.
Following the Money and the Fairness Factor
One of the most important parts of this study is its focus on transparency. The NAS must investigate how fees are collected, where the money goes (e.g., to the land units, the agencies, or third-party contractors), and how clearly those fee structures are communicated to users (SEC. 3). For the average person, this means the study should shed light on why you pay what you pay and who profits from the booking process. Furthermore, the study will examine the odds of actually getting a reservation and how well the systems are keeping up with modern tech issues like bots and third-party resellers who snap up spots only to resell them at a markup.
Designing a Better System for Everyone
This isn’t just an audit; it’s a blueprint for improvement. The NAS is required to look at “best practices” for designing these systems, including different booking windows and how to handle the unique needs of specific locations. They will also explore ways to reduce “no shows”—people who reserve a spot but never use it—and whether more first-come, first-served options would make access fairer (SEC. 3). Ultimately, the goal is to provide Congress with actionable recommendations within 18 months, leading to reservation systems that are more equitable, transparent, and less frustrating for the millions of people who rely on them to enjoy public lands.