S. 2498Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 23, 2026 at 4:52 AM UTC

The National Park System Long‑Term Lease Investment Act lets the Secretary of the Interior extend existing leases inside national parks without opening them to a new competitive bidding process, provided certain conditions are met. It also creates a new ability to create very long leases—up to 99 years—for big redevelopment projects that cost more than $100 million. The bill adds reporting, notice, and congressional notification steps to protect park interests and ensure oversight.

Key Provisions

The Secretary can extend a lease that was first signed at least five years earlier and is currently in compliance, if the extension is deemed in the park’s best interest.
Before extending, the Secretary must publish a 60‑day notice inviting other qualified parties to submit interest, evaluate any competing offers, and only extend if the current lessee remains the best option.
If an extension would last more than 10 years, the Secretary must notify the Senate and House energy/natural resources committees at least 30 days before the extension can take effect.
A mid‑term compliance review is required at the lease’s midpoint; non‑compliance can lead to termination and re‑leasing the property through competitive bidding.
The Secretary may enter new leases up to 99 years for redevelopment projects costing over $100 million, with a similar 60‑day congressional notification if the lease exceeds 60 years.
Within 90 days of enactment, the Secretary must update the relevant federal regulations to reflect these new authorities.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 638.

September 17, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 29, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

July 29, 2025

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.

National Parks Subcommittee

July 21, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

July 29, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

September 17, 2026

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 638.

September 17, 2026

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued September 17, 2026

Calendar No. 638

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2498

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

September 17, 2026

Reported by Mr. Lee, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

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.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act.

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).

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act.

Authorization to extend certain leases

(a)

In general

Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Director of the National Park Service) (referred to in this Act 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 section 18.7, 18.8, or 18.10 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)

Requirement

Before extending a lease under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

publish a notice, for a period of not less than 60 days, inviting letters of interest from other qualified entities to operate the lease on expiration;

(2)

evaluate any competing letter of interest received under paragraph (1) as compared to the terms offered, planned capital investment, and quality of visitor services provided by the incumbent lessee; and

(3)

if the Secretary determines that a competing letter of interest would provide better terms than the continued operation of the incumbent lease—

(A)

decline to extend the lease under subsection (a); and

(B)

in lieu of such an extension, offer the lease for competitive bidding in accordance with sections 18.7 and 18.8 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).

(c)

Congressional notification required for certain lease extensions

In the case of a proposed lease extension under subsection (a) for a duration of more than 10 years, the Secretary may not grant the proposed lease extension until the date that is not less than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives the proposed lease extension.

(d)

Mid-term compliance review

(1)

In general

Not later than the date that is the midpoint of the term of a lease extended under subsection (a), the Director of the National Park Service shall prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Interior a report evaluating the compliance by the lessee with the terms and conditions of the extended lease, including with respect to rent, maintenance, insurance, and permitted-use requirements under the lease and part 18 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).

(2)

Review and determination

Not later than 60 days after receiving a report under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior shall—

(A)

review the report; and

(B)

based on the findings included in the report, determine whether the lessee that is the subject of the report remains in compliance with the terms and conditions of the applicable extended lease.

(3)

Termination for noncompliance

If the Secretary of the Interior determines under paragraph (2) that a lessee is not in compliance with the terms and conditions of an extended lease under this section, the Secretary of the Interior may—

(A)

terminate the lease extension in accordance with the termination-for-cause or default provisions required under section 18.12(a) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation); and

(B)

after such termination, make the applicable property available for lease through a request for bids or a request for proposals under section 18.7 or 18.8, respectively, of that title (or successor regulations).

(4)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this subsection limits any other right of the Secretary of the Interior to terminate a lease for cause or default in accordance with the terms of the lease or applicable law.

Authorization to enter into long-term leases

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding the second sentence of section 18.10 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 3, 2025), the Secretary may enter into a lease under part 18 of that title with a lease term of not more than 99 years for the redevelopment of National Park Service property, the redevelopment costs of which are expected to exceed $100,000,000, if the Secretary has determined that entering into the lease is in the best financial needs and interests of the administration of the applicable unit of the National Park System.

(b)

Congressional notification required for certain leases

In the case of a proposed lease under subsection (a) for a duration of more than 60 years, the Secretary may not enter into the proposed lease until the date that is not less than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives the proposed lease.

Conforming regulations

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 sections 2 and 3.

September 17, 2026

Reported with an amendment