Libraries get passport power—and a new revenue stream
S. 3733 — A bill to amend the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, to authorize certain public libraries to collect and retain a fee for the execution of a passport application. · Filed by John Fetterman (D-PA) · 8 cosponsors · Introduced Jan 29, 2026 · Reported out
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What it does
This bill authorizes certain public libraries to serve as passport acceptance facilities and collect execution fees for passport applications they process. Libraries organized as nonprofits or charitable organizations can now retain the fees they collect, and any library that previously served as a passport acceptance facility must be authorized to do so within 30 days of enactment.
Why we flagged it
The bill expands passport acceptance infrastructure by authorizing public libraries—civic institutions—to process applications and retain modest execution fees. This is a straightforward public-access measure, not a regulatory carve-out or private subsidy.
What the text implies
- Libraries must be organized as nonprofits or charitable entities to participate; this may exclude some municipal library systems organized as direct government departments, creating a two-tier authorization structure.
- The 30-day retroactive authorization requirement for previously-serving libraries may create administrative burden if the Secretary of State lacks complete records of which libraries previously participated.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
public libraries (nonprofit and charitable organizations); library systems (modest revenue from execution fees)