Sponsors (7)
The bill expands convenient local access to passport services at public libraries and increases transparency, while creating modest new local revenue and imposing administrative and compliance risks that could reduce federal receipts or lead to lost services if libraries or the State Department cannot meet requirements.
Residents who use public libraries will have more convenient local locations to submit passport applications and pay the execution fee, expanding access to federal passport services.
Taxpayers and the public benefit from improved transparency and accountability because the State Department must act and report on reauthorizing former library acceptance sites in a timely manner.
Public libraries that qualify can retain passport execution fees, giving libraries a modest new revenue stream to support local services and operations.
Local residents could lose convenient passport services if libraries fail to meet State Department regulations and are deemed ineligible or noncompliant.
Allowing libraries to keep execution fees may reduce federal fee revenue or shift accountability and administrative burdens for fee collection onto local entities (libraries/local governments).
Requiring the State Department to complete authorizations and reports within tight 30-day deadlines could strain agency resources or lead to rushed reviews.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Permits eligible public libraries organized as nonprofit/charitable entities to serve as passport acceptance facilities and to collect/retain the passport execution fee, with prompt reinstatement for previously serving libraries.
Authorizes the Secretary of State to allow eligible public libraries that are organized as nongovernmental, nonprofit, charitable organizations, or trusts to operate as passport acceptance facilities and to collect and retain the passport execution fee. Requires the Secretary to promptly reinstate any public library that previously served as an acceptance facility and was in compliance, to do so within 30 days of enactment, and to provide a report to congressional committees explaining compliance or reasons for noncompliance.
Introduced January 29, 2026 by John Karl Fetterman · Last progress January 29, 2026