A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This Act, known as the "STARS Act," directs the Secretary of the Interior to designate a specific date in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. On September 17, 2026, admission will be free for all visitors to National Park Service sites that usually charge an entrance fee. Additionally, standard amenity recreation fees will be waived at sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation. The Secretary of Agriculture is also tasked with waiving standard amenity recreation fees for visitors at Forest Service sites on that same date.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Waiving entrance and amenity fees provides more affordable recreational opportunities for low-income families.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill increases public access to federal lands through fee waivers.
- Scored +3
Would middle-income households be better off under this?
The bill offers cost savings on national and federal recreational activities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Free Admission to National Parks: Visitors will not have to pay entrance fees at National Park Service sites on September 17, 2026, allowing for free access to these locations (Section 2(a)(1)(A)).
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Reduced Costs for Other Recreational Sites: Visitors can access sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or Bureau of Reclamation without paying standard amenity recreation fees (Section 2(a)(1)(B)).
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Forest Service Accessibility: People visiting sites managed by the Forest Service will have standard amenity recreation fees waived on the designated date (Section 2(a)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Waiving entrance and amenity fees provides more affordable recreational opportunities for low-income families. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill offers cost savings on national and federal recreational activities. Would high-income households be better off under this? — The benefit of fee waivers is statistically less significant for high-income earners.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill increases public access to federal lands through fee waivers.
- 12/10/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 12/9/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5074)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5074)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4285.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5074-5075)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 9/15/2025
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-294.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 250.
- 7/23/2025
- Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 7/16/2025
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 7/9/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
- 7/2/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House