Malloy bill would make Sept. 17, 2026 a fee-free day at National Park Service sites

Rep. Burgess Malloy introduced the Semi-quincentennial Tourism and Access to Recreation Sites (STARS) Act to direct the secretary of the Interior to designate Sept. 17, 2026, Constitution Day, as a fee‑free day at all National Park Service sites nationwide.

Supporters told the Subcommittee on Federal Lands that a single national fee‑free day will expand access to public lands during the nation’s 250th anniversary, promote local economies and encourage repeat visitation. Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film Commission, told the subcommittee that Utah’s national park sites attracted more than 15,700,000 visitors in 2023 and generated about $1.9 billion in visitor spending supporting roughly 26,500 local jobs. "Designating September 17 in 2026 as a fee free day celebrating America 250 will encourage even greater public participation in this historic milestone," Randall said.

The bill’s advocates argued the day will create awareness that drives return visits and strengthens gateway communities that depend on recreation and tourism. "The invitation and accessibility a fee free day creates allows for these communities to share their heritage with visitors across the country and the world," Randall said, adding that fee waivers can help bring underserved communities to parks.

Committee members pressed witnesses on practical limits. Ranking Member Representative Joe Neguse said he supports increasing access but raised staffing concerns: he noted an ongoing appropriations markup that, he said, included significant cuts to the National Park Service and would result in layoffs and reduced capacity, asking how parks could accommodate increased visitation without sufficient staff on the ground. The hearing record shows no formal committee action on the STARS Act during the hearing; witnesses recommended coordination with park managers and resource planning before implementation.

The subcommittee heard personal and place‑based testimony from Utah and other gateway communities about economic reliance on visitation. Supporters framed the measure as symbolic and practical: a national invitation to celebrate the Constitution and the country’s public lands together. No binding timeline, appropriation, or required administrative changes were enacted at the hearing; committee members may submit follow‑up questions for the record.

The subcommittee held the hearing as part of a set of bills related to commemorations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The STARS Act would rely on the Interior Department and the National Park Service to implement any fee waiver and on existing park operating plans to absorb increased visitation. Committee members asked the witnesses to provide additional detail about how parks would staff, educate and steward lands if the fee‑free day leads to significantly higher attendance.

Less urgent procedural steps for the bill remain: hearings and staff work, coordination with the National Park Service and, if advanced, referral to the full Natural Resources Committee for markup and a possible floor vote.