S. 2896 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Sep 18, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryFree entrance to federal recreation sites
This bill sets aside September 17, 2026, as a special day to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. On that day, the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service would waive all entrance and recreation fees at national parks, wildlife refuges, and other federal recreation sites they manage, letting everyone visit for free.
How it affects you
If you're planning to visit a national park, wildlife refuge, or other federal recreation site, you'd be able to go for free on September 17, 2026, without paying the usual entrance or amenity fees. This is a one-time commemorative offer tied to the nation's 250th anniversary.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Sep 18, 2025)
Semiquincentennial Tourism and Access to Recreation Sites Act or the STARS Act
This bill directs the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to designate September 17, 2026, as an entrance-fee free date in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. On that date, Interior must waive (1) the entrance fees for all visitors of National Park Service or National Wildlife Refuge System sites; and (2) the standard amenity recreation fees for all visitors to each site managed by the Bureau of Land Management or the Bureau of Reclamation. The Forest Service must waive the standard amenity recreation fees on that date for all visitors to sites it manages.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 2896
A BILL
STARS Act
Sponsor: Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) · Introduced Sep 18, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 18, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.”