Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter Recreation Pass Act

The bill would amend Section 805(b) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to expand eligibility for a free annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass to law enforcement officers and firefighters. Currently that no-cost pass is available to members of the Armed Forces and their dependents; the bill would add law enforcement and firefighting personnel to that list. Eligible individuals would need to provide proof of eligibility as determined by the Secretary.

The bill defines both terms broadly. "Firefighter" would cover any employee of the federal government, a state, a local government, or an Indian Tribe who performs work directly related to suppressing fires, including wildland fires. "Law enforcement officer" would cover any officer, agent, or employee of the same governmental entities who is authorized to prevent, detect, or investigate criminal law violations, or to supervise sentenced criminal offenders. The bill does not provide new funding or create a new pass program.

Law enforcement officers and firefighters employed by federal, state, local, and tribal governments who would become eligible for a free annual recreation pass. Federal land management agencies — primarily the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior — would be directed to issue these passes upon proof of eligibility. Armed Forces members and dependents who already receive the benefit are unaffected.

For eligible law enforcement and firefighting personnel, the change would eliminate the entry fee at national parks and other federal recreation sites. Because the definition covers state, local, and tribal employees — not just federal workers — a large share of the country's first-responder workforce could qualify, though agencies would bear the cost of the forgone entrance fees.

The Secretaries of Agriculture (Forest Service) and the Interior would be responsible for implementing the expanded pass. They would set the standards for what counts as "adequate proof of eligibility" for both categories of pass recipients. No rulemaking deadline is specified. Because the bill folds the new eligibility into an existing pass program rather than creating a new one, the main administrative task is verifying credentials at point of issuance.