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HR 9282

Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Act

119th Congress Introduced by Wesley Bell and 23 co-sponsors

Proposes fee-free entry on certain days for federal recreation lands and waters by amending FLREA regulations.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9282

Bill Overview

  • Bill: HR 9282
  • Session: 119
  • Jurisdiction: United States
  • Title: To amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide that entrance fees shall not be charged for entry to Federal recreational lands and water on certain days, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced: June 11, 2026
  • Action to date: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and, in addition, to the Committee on Agriculture for consideration of provisions within those committees’ jurisdictions.
  • Sponsors: A broad group of Democratic members, with LaMonica McIver and multiple co-sponsors including Joe Neguse, Wesley Bell, Sydney Kamlager, Hank Johnson, Jennifer McClellan, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Emanuel Cleaver, Lauren Underwood, Yvette Clarke, Danny Davis, Laura Friedman, Lateefah Simon, Bobby Scott, Mike Quigley, Bennie Thompson, Dwight Evans, Shomari Figures, Emily Randall, Rashida Tlaib, André Carson, and Marc Veasey.

Purpose and Intent

  • The core aim is to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) to change how entrance fees are applied to Federal recreational lands and waters.
  • Specifically, the bill proposes that entrance fees shall not be charged on certain days. The exact days are not stated in the provided summary, but the intent is to establish fee-free entry on selected dates.

Key Provisions and Changes (as implied by title and description)

  • Amend FLREA: The bill would modify the statutory framework governing entrance fees for federal lands and waters designated for recreation.
  • Fee-Free Days: Establishes or authorizes fee-free entry on specific days for Federal recreational lands and waters. This could involve days such as federal holidays, certain weekends, or other targeted dates, though the exact schedule is not enumerated in the provided text.
  • Scope: Applies to Federal lands and water managed under FLREA, which typically includes units of the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other eligible federal lands.
  • Other Purposes: The title indicates there may be additional provisions related to FLREA beyond fee-free days, though details are not provided in the summary.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Entrance Fee Structures: Federal agencies managing recreational lands and waters subject to FLREA would implement fee-free days.
  • Visitors: Public users of federal recreation sites would benefit from fee-free access on designated days.
  • Federally Managed Lands: Units governed by agencies under FLREA would be impacted in terms of admissions or entry policy on the specified days.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Referral: Pending action by the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture to consider provisions within their jurisdictions.
  • Next Steps: If advanced, the bill would likely proceed to committee hearings, potential amendments, and then floor consideration. Timelines would depend on committee calendars and legislative priorities.
  • No fiscal or funding details are provided in the summary; additional amendments could address implementation, funding, or administrative processes.

Potential Impacts to Consider

  • Access and Equity: Fee-free entry on certain days could lower barriers to access for diverse communities, students, families, and casual recreation users.
  • Revenue and Funding: FLREA fees fund maintenance, conservation, and operations of federal recreation sites. Fee-free days could impact short-term revenue, requiring consideration of need for alternative funding or offsets.
  • Management and Planning: Agencies would need to schedule and advertise fee-free dates, and update payment systems, signage, and communications accordingly.

Notes for Readers

  • Specific dates for the proposed fee-free days, any sunset provisions, or accompanying regulatory details are not provided in the summary. For a complete understanding, review the full text of HR 9282 and any accompanying committee reports or fiscal notes.
  • Given the bill’s reference to FLREA, readers may want to consider how current FLREA fee programs operate and how changes could interact with existing fee categories (e.g., daily entrance fees, per-vehicle charges, or annual passes).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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