America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act
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The bill would let an America the Beautiful annual pass cover a second motorcycle and its passengers, not just the passholder's own motorcycle, when entering federal recreational lands.
It would also write into law the current practice that the pass covers all passengers riding with the passholder in a single private vehicle, reversing a 2024 Interior Department policy that limited pass coverage to one motorcycle.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to specify what the America the Beautiful (National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands) Pass must cover when used on a per-vehicle fee basis at federal recreational lands and waters. For passholders entering by motorcycle, the pass would have to cover the entrance and standard amenity recreation fees for the passholder and any passengers on their motorcycle, plus one additional accompanying motorcycle and its passengers.
For passholders entering in a private, noncommercial vehicle, the bill would codify that the pass covers the passholder and any passengers riding in that vehicle. The bill does not change the fee amounts themselves, create a new pass, or affect pass coverage for commercial vehicles or group entries beyond what is specified.
Key provisions
- 1Would require the America the Beautiful pass to cover the entrance and amenity fees for a motorcyclist, their passengers, and one additional accompanying motorcycle with its passengers
- 2Would codify that the pass covers the passholder and any passengers riding together in a single private, noncommercial vehicle
Who would be affected
Holders of the America the Beautiful annual pass who visit federal recreational lands and waters by motorcycle or personal vehicle, particularly motorcyclists who ride in pairs or groups, and the National Park Service and other federal land-management agencies that administer pass rules and collect entrance fees.
Why it matters
Motorcyclists who ride with a companion motorcycle would no longer have to pay a separate entrance fee for the second bike after a 2024 Interior Department policy limited pass coverage to one motorcycle. The change would restore broader fee coverage for motorcycle groups and lock in existing practice for vehicle passengers into statute.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6804(a)(7)) (Sec. 2)
Adds specific rules requiring the interagency pass to cover a second motorcycle and its passengers, and to cover vehicle passengers, on a per-vehicle fee basis
Agencies directed to act
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Official CRS summary
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This bill allows an additional motorcycle, including passengers, to accompany a motorcyclist with an America the Beautiful Annual Pass when visiting federal recreational lands and waters.
In 2024, the Department of the Interior limited the pass coverage to one motorcycle per pass rather than two. The bill specifies that the pass must cover the entrance fee and standard amenity recreation fee for the passholder and any passengers on the motorcycle along with one additional motorcycle with its passengers.
The bill also codifies current Interior policy that the pass covers the fees for a passholder and any accompanying passengers in a noncommercial vehicle.
Legislative subjects
Motor vehicles; Outdoor recreation; Parks, recreation areas, trails; Public Lands and Natural Resources; User charges and fees
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-450