Sponsors (61)
The bill directs more donation‑driven, transparent funding and planning toward restoring federal lands and preserves project continuity when appropriations lapse, but it risks shifting costs onto visitors, weakening congressional spending control, and leaving low‑donor communities behind.
Rural and urban communities and local governments: Projects that secure at least 15% in private donations will be prioritized for Legacy Restoration Fund awards, accelerating repairs and improvements on national parks and other Federal lands.
Taxpayers, donors, and state/local governments: Donations collected at pass checkout and other channels will be credited to the Legacy Restoration Fund and agencies must publish current and next‑fiscal‑year project lists, increasing transparency, donor impact, and planning clarity for communities and Congress.
Local governments and communities: Agencies must report within one year on non‑Fund actions to reduce deferred maintenance and provide plans to increase preventative maintenance, which can lower long‑term repair costs and reduce service disruptions.
Rural, low‑income, and underserved communities: Prioritizing projects that secure ≥15% private donations will likely disadvantage low‑donor areas and delay needed repairs there, exacerbating equity gaps.
Visitors and taxpayers: Directing small cash donations into the Fund and toward specific projects shifts maintenance funding onto visitors/donors and reduces the flexibility of general appropriations.
Taxpayers and state governments: Allowing the President to reallocate Fund amounts when appropriations lapse may diminish Congressional control over spending priorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Modifies rules for the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to change deposits/allocations, expand eligible projects, prioritize donation-backed projects, allow limited reallocations, require asset disposal, and mandate a report.
Introduced May 1, 2025 by Steve Daines · Last progress May 1, 2025
Changes how the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund is handled so more restoration and maintenance work can be prioritized and paid for. It revises how deposits and allocations are made, broadens which sites are eligible, gives priority to projects that bring at least 15% in public donations, strengthens how donations are solicited and credited (including at pass checkout), allows limited Presidential reallocation of already-approved projects if full-year appropriations are late, requires disposal of constructed assets that no longer serve the public interest, and directs a report to Congress on actions to reduce deferred maintenance and increase preventative maintenance across federal lands.