US Congress Reshapes National Park Regulations to Enhance Opportunities for Commercial Photography

In a late-stage legislative action, President Joe Biden enacted the EXPLORE Act, an acronym for the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act. This legislation revises existing regulations that limit filming and photography within national parks.

One component of the law, the FILM Act, will also tackle long-standing grievances regarding onerous permit prerequisites for filmmakers and photographers desiring to capture footage in the parks.

Previously, permits were compulsory and could be denied for several reasons that critics deemed inconsistent. This procedure was contested in a lawsuit filed in December 2024 by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the National Press Photographers Association, alongside videographers Alexander Rienzie and Connor Burkesmith. The organizations alleged that the government’s restriction was unlawful, claiming that the process violated First Amendment freedoms.

The revised legislation eliminates permit requirements for smaller groups engaged in photography on national park grounds. Groups with fewer than six individuals are now permitted to capture footage of the parks, provided they follow regulations by refraining from disturbing the native habitats of these locations. Sets and staging gear remain prohibited under the new law, which specifies that commercial producers with larger operations still necessitate permits.

In a statement, Bob Corn-Revere, Chief Counsel for FIRE, expressed support for the permit reform, stating, “This new legislation enables filmmakers to share the aesthetics and narratives of our national parks without the threat of imprisonment or fines for their use of the footage.”