S 2969119th CongressIn Committee

A bill to amend title 54, United States Code, to provide that State law shall apply to the use of motor vehicles on roads within a System unit.

Introduced: Oct 3, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-Utah)

Infrastructure

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would shift the regulate-on-road authority inside National System units (such as units of the National Park System) from federal rules to state motor vehicle laws. Specifically, it would require that the law of the state in which a System unit is located apply to the use of motor vehicles on roads within that System unit (including both on-road and certain off-road vehicles when used on those roads). It defines “road” as the main-traveled surface open to motor vehicles and administered by the National Park Service, and it lets each state define what counts as an off-highway vehicle. Violating state law on a System unit road would be prohibited within that System unit. A clerical amendment adds a new “State law” entry to the System unit analysis.

Key Points

1The law of the state where a System unit is located would govern the use of motor vehicles on roads inside that unit, including off-highway vehicles defined by that state.
2A “road” is the main-traveled surface open to motor vehicles that is owned, controlled, or administered by the National Park Service.
3Violations of state law applicable to System units would be offenses inside the applicable System unit.
4Off-highway vehicle definitions would be determined by the state where the System unit is located.
5The bill adds a new entry (101513. State law) to the subchapter’s legal analysis for title 54.

Impact Areas

Primary: Visitors, concessionaires, and employees operating motor vehicles on roads within National System units; National Park Service law enforcement and administration.Secondary: State departments of motor vehicles and state traffic courts—since state laws would govern activities within System units; potential changes in enforcement practices for on-road vehicle use in parks.Additional: Consistency and potential complexity for System units that lie in multiple states or border diverse state laws; possible tension or coordination needs between federal land management policies and state traffic/safety laws.The bill is introduced in the Senate (S. 2969) and would amend title 54 to implement this state-law-on-system-roads regime.It does not specify preemption details beyond stating that state law applies; practical effects on enforcement, cross-border units, and conflicts with existing federal park regulations would likely require further clarification if enacted.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 23, 2025