Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3735
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T23:56:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act," aims to prevent the politicization of the America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (commonly called the National Parks Pass) by banning the use of images of living political figures on it. This ensures the pass remains focused on promoting public lands without partisan imagery.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Existing Law: The bill modifies Section 805(a)(2) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6804(a)(2)).
- It removes the word "competition" from the paragraph heading.
- It adds a new clause stating: "The image used on the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass may not include a living current or former elected official or other living political figure."
- Scope: The restriction applies specifically to the visual design of the pass, which provides access to national parks and other federal recreational lands for a fee.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Prior to this amendment, the law allowed for images on the pass, potentially through design competitions, without explicit prohibitions on political figures.
- The change introduces a clear ban on using likenesses of living politicians (e.g., current or former presidents, senators, or other elected officials) to maintain neutrality, shifting from permissive design rules to a restrictive one focused on non-partisan content.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Agencies like the Department of the Interior and National Park Service, which manage the pass, will need to update design guidelines and review processes to comply, potentially simplifying approvals by excluding political imagery.
- On Citizens: Pass buyers (over 80 million sold annually) will see designs that emphasize natural or historical themes without political endorsements, preserving the pass's role as an apolitical tool for recreation access.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly reinforce the U.S. image of neutral public lands management for international visitors using the pass.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and other land management entities responsible for pass production and distribution.
- Political Figures: Current and former elected officials or political leaders, whose images are now barred from official government merchandise.
- Public and Designers: Citizens, artists, and graphic designers involved in pass creation, who must adhere to the new non-partisan standards.
- Recreation Industry: Tour operators and businesses tied to national parks, benefiting from an uncontroversial pass design.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The amendment is straightforward and enforceable through existing administrative rules, with no immediate challenges anticipated, as it regulates government-issued materials rather than private speech.
- Constitutional: Aligns with First Amendment principles by limiting government endorsement of individuals, avoiding establishment of favoritism; it does not restrict private use of political images elsewhere.
- Political: Promotes bipartisanship in public lands policy by preventing passes from becoming vehicles for political promotion, potentially reducing controversy in an era of polarized imagery, though it could spark debate over defining "political figures."
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2026-01-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act — issued 2026-01-29 — PDF (2 pages)