HB992: HB992 State parks; free admission on certain public and legal holidays; provide

Georgia currently allows the Board of Natural Resources to charge admission fees at state parks, historic sites, and recreational areas. House Bill 992 would add a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 12-3-9.2) creating free admission for Georgia residents on the public and legal holidays already listed in state law (O.C.G.A. § 1-4-1), such as New Year's Day, Memorial Day, and Christmas. The bill defines 'fee' as the charge the Board of Natural Resources sets for using or occupying a state park, historic site, or recreational area. On the specified holidays, no such fee could be charged to Georgia residents. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws but does not include a separate effective date section, so it would take effect under Georgia's standard rules for new legislation.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 12-3-9.2) barring fees for Georgia residents at state parks, historic sites, and recreational areas on official holidays.
• Defines 'fee' as the charge the Board of Natural Resources sets for using or occupying these state-run sites.
• Ties the free-admission days to the list of public and legal holidays already defined in O.C.G.A. § 1-4-1, rather than creating a new holiday list.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new free-admission rule.

Georgia residents who visit state parks, historic sites, and recreational areas benefit from free admission on listed holidays. The Board of Natural Resources and the state park system, which currently collect these fees, would see reduced fee revenue on those specific days.

Georgia residents would be able to visit state parks, historic sites, and recreational areas without paying an entrance fee on official holidays like Memorial Day or Labor Day, potentially increasing visits on those days while reducing the fee income the park system collects.

• Section 1 adds Code Section 12-3-9.2, defining 'fee' as the charge set by the Board of Natural Resources for using or occupying a state park, historic site, or recreational area.
• Section 1 states that no fee shall be charged to Georgia residents for admission on any public and legal holiday listed in O.C.G.A. § 1-4-1.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws but does not set a separate effective date.

1. 2026-01-27House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-16House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-15House Hopper (House)

• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)Primary sponsor
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)
• Solomon Adesanya (D, HD-043)
• Al Williams (D, HD-168)
• Eric Bell (D, HD-075)

• state parks
• free admission
• public holidays
• outdoor recreation