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Requires any National Park System unit that charges an entrance fee to accept cash as a form of payment and directs the Secretary of the Interior to ensure park units comply. The change ensures people who rely on cash can pay entrance fees in person at fee‑charging park units.
The Secretary of the Interior must require that any unit of the National Park System that charges an entrance fee accept cash as a form of payment for that entrance fee.
Who is affected and how:
Visitors to federal public recreational sites (specifically National Park System units that charge entrance fees): Direct benefit — visitors who rely on cash will be able to pay entrance fees in person rather than being excluded by card‑only systems. This improves access and equity for unbanked or cash‑preferring visitors.
National Park Service staff and park operations: Operational impact — parks that currently operate cashless or card‑only systems may need to add staffed cashiering points, implement secure cash storage and transport procedures, update reconciliation and accounting practices, and train staff on cash handling and security. This can increase workload and potentially require modest additional resources.
Department of the Interior (Secretary of the Interior): Oversight responsibility — the Secretary must ensure compliance, which could require issuing guidance, monitoring implementation, and resolving operational issues across park units.
Vendors and concessionaires (third‑party payment vendors, contractors): Indirect impact — card‑only payment vendors may face changes in the scope of services at entrance points; concessionaires that manage entrance stations under contract may need to adjust operations to accept cash.
Public safety and security considerations: Accepting cash increases the need for secure handling and anti‑theft measures, potentially increasing security costs or altering staffing patterns at some sites.
Overall effect: The policy is narrowly focused and primarily affects park visitors and NPS operational practices. It improves payment access for cash users but may impose modest administrative, staffing, and security costs on park units. The statute does not provide implementation funding or a timeline, so the Interior Department will need to manage practical steps within existing resources unless additional funding is provided separately.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Introduced March 13, 2025 by Cynthia M. Lummis · Last progress March 13, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Introduced in Senate