Sponsors (20)
The bill expands and speeds restoration of local passport services and increases program transparency, but it shifts administrative and security costs to libraries/local governments and reduces federal fee revenue, with a tight reauthorization deadline that could cause short-term service risks.
Residents in communities served by qualifying public libraries (especially rural communities) can apply for U.S. passports locally, and those libraries may collect and retain the passport execution fee, improving local access to passport services.
Public libraries that previously served as passport acceptance facilities and were compliant will be reauthorized within 30 days, restoring local passport services more quickly.
The State Department must provide a 30-day report documenting compliance or explaining noncompliance to Congress, increasing transparency and oversight of the passport acceptance program for taxpayers.
Public libraries and local governments will face additional administrative, security, and compliance costs to meet State Department requirements for accepting passport applications.
The 30-day deadline for the State Department to reauthorize libraries may be tight, risking incomplete reviews, temporary service gaps, or rushed approvals that could reduce service quality in some communities.
Allowing libraries to retain passport execution fees reduces fee revenue flowing to the federal government, which could affect the finances of the federal passport program or require offsets.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows qualifying public libraries to serve as passport acceptance facilities and to collect and keep the passport execution fee. The Secretary of State must authorize any previously serving, compliant public libraries and report to congressional committees within 30 days after the law takes effect.
Introduced January 9, 2026 by John Joyce · Last progress January 9, 2026