National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act

Thom Tillis

Republican · NC · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Ted Budd (R-NC)Original· 2025-07-29

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

2026-07-29

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would allow private companies and investors to enter into long-term lease agreements with the National Park Service to develop and operate facilities within national parks, such as hotels, restaurants, and recreational amenities. The arrangement aims to generate revenue for park maintenance and improvements while reducing the burden on federal taxpayers, though it could affect how much public access and control citizens have over these protected lands. Park visitors and conservation groups would be the primary stakeholders affected by how these private leases are structured and managed.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 2498 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2498 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend certain leases within units of the National Park System without opening the lease to bidding. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 29, 2025 Mr. Tillis (for himself and Mr. Budd) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend certain leases within units of the National Park System without opening the lease to bidding. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act''. SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND CERTAIN LEASES. (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Director of the National Park Service) (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') may extend a lease entered into under part 18 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 3, 2025), without complying with the requirements of sections 18.7 or 18.8 of that part, if-- (1) the lessee-- (A) entered into the lease not less than 5 years before the date on which the extension takes effect; and (B) is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the lease; and (2) the Secretary determines that extending the lease is in the best interests of the administration of the applicable unit of the National Park System. (b) Revision of Regulation.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall revise part 18 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, to reflect the authority granted under subsection (a). <all>

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