A bill to amend the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, to authorize certain public libraries to collect and retain a fee for the execution of a passport application.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · January 29, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
This bill amends the Passport Act of 1920 to let certain public libraries serve as official passport acceptance facilities and keep the fees they collect for processing passport applications, rather than sending that money to the federal government. Eligible libraries include those organized as nongovernmental organizations, nonprofits, charitable organizations, or trusts, as long as they meet State Department regulations for handling passport applications. The bill specifically requires the Secretary of State, within 30 days of enactment, to reauthorize any public library that had previously served as a passport acceptance facility and was in compliance with the rules, and to report to Congress on that compliance status. It also updates the law's language to formally include public libraries alongside state officials, local governments, and the Postal Service as entities authorized to accept passport applications. The change mainly benefits libraries and the communities they serve, giving libraries a new funding stream while making passport services more accessible, especially in areas with limited government office access.
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