Sponsors (5)
Introduced September 18, 2025 by John Boozman · Last progress September 18, 2025
The bill waives federal public‑land entrance fees for one day to expand access and commemorate the semiquincentennial—boosting visitation and local commerce—while producing forgone fee revenue and concentrated environmental and operational strain without solving long‑term park funding needs.
Families, students, low‑income individuals, and other visitors (urban and rural) can enter national parks, wildlife refuges, BLM, Reclamation, and Forest Service sites free on Sept 17, 2026, removing a cost barrier and increasing one‑day access to outdoor recreation.
Small businesses and local communities near public lands (rural and urban) are likely to see a one-day boost in tourism and spending from increased visitation.
All Americans gain a nationwide observance recognizing the semiquincentennial, promoting awareness of national heritage and public engagement with federal lands.
Taxpayers, park operations, and visitors will forgo fee revenue on that date, reducing funds available for site maintenance and visitor services.
Visitors and nearby communities may face overcrowded facilities, parking shortages, greater trail wear, and a degraded visitor experience from concentrated one‑day visitation, increasing stress on natural resources.
Regular visitors and park managers receive only a temporary benefit while the bill does not address recurring funding shortfalls for parks, leaving long‑term maintenance and operational challenges unresolved.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Waives entrance and standard amenity recreation fees at federal parks, refuges, forests, BLM, and Reclamation sites for one national fee‑free day on September 17, 2026.
Waives entrance and standard amenity recreation fees at federal public lands and wildlife refuges for one nationwide fee‑free day on September 17, 2026, to mark the U.S. semiquincentennial. The Interior and Agriculture Departments are required to suspend the identified fees at sites they manage that charge such fees on that date, using fee definitions from the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.