HR7251-119

What This Bill Does

The Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act rule for the annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. The pass image could no longer include a living current or former elected official or any other living political figure. The practical effect is a narrow nonpartisanship rule for federal recreation-pass design rather than a change to park access, pass prices, or recreation-fee authority.

Who Benefits and How

National park visitors and other federal lands passholders benefit from a pass-design rule that keeps the shared recreation pass focused on public lands rather than living political figures. Federal land-management agencies benefit from a bright-line statutory standard that reduces political controversy over pass artwork. Public trust in the recreation pass program benefits because the pass cannot be used as a current political branding vehicle.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Interior Department and other federal recreation-fee program staff must screen pass images, update design guidance, and reject artwork that includes living current or former elected officials or living political figures. Living political figures and their supporters bear the burden of losing a federal pass as a symbolic platform. Artists and vendors working on pass designs must verify that proposed images avoid covered living political figures.

Key Provisions

• Amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act rule governing National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass images.
• Prohibits pass artwork from including living current or former elected officials.
• Bars images of other living political figures on the annual federal recreation pass.
• Leaves park access, recreation fees, and pass eligibility unchanged while changing the design constraint.