Summary#
The bill would change who gets a free annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. It adds law enforcement officers and firefighters to the groups eligible for a no-cost pass. The broad goal is to let more public safety workers use federal recreation lands without paying the annual pass fee.
- Main change: Adds definitions for “firefighter” and “law enforcement officer” and requires the Secretary to provide the annual pass at no cost to each law enforcement officer or firefighter who shows proof of eligibility.
- Who is covered: Employees of the Federal Government, a State, a unit of local government, or an Indian Tribe who meet the bill’s job definitions.
- Keeps existing coverage: Members of the Armed Forces and their dependents remain eligible for the free pass.
- Type of pass: The change applies to the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (the annual recreation pass used across federal lands).
- Proof required: Passes are free only after the person provides “adequate proof of eligibility,” to be set by the Secretary.
What it means for you#
- Law enforcement officers: If you are a government law enforcement officer (federal, state, local, or tribal) who is authorized to prevent, detect, or investigate crimes, or to supervise sentenced offenders, you could get the annual federal lands pass for free after proving eligibility.
- Firefighters: If you are a government firefighter (federal, state, local, or tribal) who works on fire suppression (including wildland fires), you could get the annual federal lands pass for free after proving eligibility.
- Members of the Armed Forces and their dependents: No change from current law — they remain eligible for the free annual pass.
- Retirees, volunteers, contractors: The bill defines eligibility by being an employee and by job duties. It does not clearly include retirees, volunteers, or private contractors. This means they likely would not be covered, unless the Secretary decides otherwise.
- Visitors to federal lands: More free passes for qualifying public-safety workers could slightly reduce fee revenue used for maintenance and programs (see Expenses). Daily visitors who do not qualify would still need to pay required fees or buy passes.
- Federal land agencies: Agencies that issue passes will need to set and apply proof rules and issue more no-cost passes.
Expenses#
No publicly available information.
- The bill text does not include a fiscal note or cost estimate.
- This change could reduce revenue from annual pass sales. Those sales partly fund maintenance and visitor services on federal lands; reduced revenue could affect those programs unless covered by other funds.
- Agencies would likely need to verify eligibility and issue more free passes. That could raise administrative costs for staffing, IT, or outreach.
- It is unclear whether agencies would get new budget authority to offset lost fees or new administrative costs.
Proponents' View#
- The bill appears intended to expand access to federal lands for public-safety workers by removing the annual pass cost.
- Supporters may argue this recognizes the service of law enforcement officers and firefighters and makes recreation more affordable for them.
- It could be seen as simplifying entry for these workers by using a standard annual pass across federal lands.
- The bill provides clear job-based definitions for who counts as a firefighter or law enforcement officer across federal, state, local, and tribal governments.
Opponents' View#
- One concern is that the bill could reduce revenue used for maintenance, visitor services, and conservation on federal lands.
- The bill does not explain how lost fee revenue would be replaced, if at all.
- It is unclear how agencies will verify eligibility and whether that creates extra paperwork or delay for applicants.
- The definitions focus on employees with certain duties. This raises questions about whether retirees, volunteers, contractors, or certain other public-safety workers are excluded.
- The change may raise fairness questions from people who pay for passes and do not get free access.