Summary: S. 815 — Rick Boucher Amphitheater Designation

What the bill would do

• Designates the outdoor amphitheater at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, Virginia (700 Foothills Road, within the Blue Ridge Parkway unit of the National Park System) as the "Rick Boucher Amphitheater."
• Requires that any reference in law, maps, regulations, documents, or other federal records to the outdoor amphitheater be deemed a reference to the Rick Boucher Amphitheater.

Key provisions

• Section 1(a): Official designation of the amphitheater’s name as the Rick Boucher Amphitheater.
• Section 1(b): All references in federal law, maps, regulations, documents, papers, or other US records to the designated amphitheater shall be treated as referring to the Rick Boucher Amphitheater.

Who/what would be affected

• The Blue Ridge Music Center and its outdoor amphitheater would be formally renamed in federal references.
• Federal agencies that publish maps, regulations, or documents mentioning the amphitheater (including materials related to the Blue Ridge Parkway and National Park System) would need to reflect the new name.
• The traveling public and visitors relying on federal materials and signage would encounter the new designation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduced in the Senate on March 3, 2025.
• Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the same day.
• Sponsorship: Primary sponsor Senator Mark R. Warner; cosponsor Senator Tim Kaine (both from Virginia).

Context and potential impact

• The bill is ceremonial in nature, naming a specific venue and aligning official references accordingly.
• There is no accompanying funding authorization or changes to management or operations indicated in the text provided.
• If enacted, expect updates to federal maps, regulatory documents, and potentially signage to reflect the Rick Boucher Amphitheater designation.

Bottom line

S. 815 seeks to honor Rick Boucher by formally renaming the outdoor amphitheater at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, Virginia, and ensuring all federal references reflect that name. The measure advances through the Senate with Senate Energy and Natural Resources involvement and notable Virginia-based sponsors.