Congress mandates six free-entry days at national parks annually
H.R. 9282 — Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Act · Filed by Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) · 26 cosponsors · Introduced Jun 11, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends federal law to require that entrance fees be waived on six specific days each year at national parks and other federal recreational lands and waters: MLK Jr. Day, the first day of National Park Week, Juneteenth, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day. The bill converts a discretionary authority (the Secretary 'may' waive fees) into a mandatory requirement (the Secretary 'shall' waive fees) on those dates, while preserving the Secretary's ability to designate additional fee-free days beyond the six mandated ones.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward conversion of discretionary authority into a mandatory duty to waive entrance fees on six named days. It is a direct public-access expansion with no hidden riders or narrow beneficiaries.
What the text implies
- The bill does not specify how parks will offset lost fee revenue on those six days, potentially creating budget pressure on park operations unless Congress appropriates replacement funding.
- The mandate applies to 'Federal recreational lands and waters' broadly, which may include lesser-known BLM, Forest Service, and other agency lands beyond the National Park System, expanding the scope beyond the title's focus on 'national parks'.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
Ordinary citizens gain guaranteed free access to federal parks and public lands on six significant dates annually, removing a financial barrier to recreation and civic participation. The bill does not restrict any existing rights or impose new costs on the public; it only mandates what was previously optional.