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To amend title 40, United States Code, to permit commercial filmmaking and photography on the United States Capitol grounds, and for other purposes.
To amend title 40, United States Code, to permit commercial filmmaking and photography on the United States Capitol grounds, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Authorizes the Chief of the United States Capitol Police to issue permits for commercial filmmaking and photography on the Capitol Grounds when neither House of Congress is in session
- Requires permitted commercial activities to be similar in type to commercial activities previously allowed in Union Square
- Requires permit holders to pay fees to cover costs, set at levels similar to fees previously charged by the National Park Service for Union Square commercial activity
- Directs collected fees to the Capitol Trust Account
- Requires the Capitol Police Board to establish regulations for the permit program in consultation with relevant congressional committees
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
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Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes (D-DC)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Eleanor Holmes Norton’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- THE DONOHOE COMPANIES INC. $16,550
- TGV ROCKETS $4,000
- THE DONOHUE COMPANIES INC. $3,500
- HILTON CORPORATION $3,300
- RAM CUSTOM SERVICES $3,300
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Eleanor Holmes Norton → · Outside spending →
Actions (4)
- Jan 21, 2026 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. · house
- Jan 20, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
- Jan 20, 2026 Introduced in House
- Jan 20, 2026 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E55)
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 20, 2026
Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend title 40, United States Code, to permit commercial filmmaking and photography on the United States Capitol grounds, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PERMITTING COMMERCIAL FILMMAKING AND PHOTOGRAPHY ON UNITED STATES CAPITOL GROUNDS.
(a) In General.—Section 5106 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(d) Commercial Filmmaking and Photography.—
“(1) Authorization by capitol police.—Notwithstanding section 5104(c) or any other provision of this chapter which restricts commercial activity on the United States Capitol Grounds, the Chief of the United States Capitol Police (hereafter in this subsection referred to as the ‘Chief’)—
“(A) may issue a permit authorizing a person to engage in appropriate commercial filmmaking and photography activity on the United States Capitol Grounds (other than any Capitol Buildings described in section 5101), so long as the person only engages in such activity during a period in which neither House of Congress is in session; and
“(B) under the terms and conditions of such a permit, may require the person to whom the permit is issued to pay an appropriate fee to cover any costs incurred by the Architect of the Capitol as a result of the issuance of the permit.
“(2) Types of activities and fees permitted.—For purposes of paragraph (1)—
“(A) commercial filmmaking and photography activity shall be considered appropriate only if the activity is similar to the types of commercial activity permitted in Union Square prior to the transfer of jurisdiction and control of Union Square to the Architect of the Capitol under section 1202 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2012 (2 U.S.C. 1811 note); and
“(B) a fee shall be considered appropriate only if the fee is similar to the fee collected by the Director of the National Park Service for commercial activity permitted in Union Square prior to such transfer of jurisdiction and control.
“(3) Use of fees.—Immediately upon receiving any fees collected under paragraph (1)(B), the Chief shall transfer the fees to the Capitol Trust Account established under section 213(c) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2014 (40 U.S.C. 5102 note).
“(4) Regulations.—The Chief shall carry out this subsection in accordance with such regulations as the Capitol Police Board may promulgate pursuant to the Board’s authority under section 14 of the Act of July 31, 1946 (2 U.S.C. 1969), except that the Board shall promulgate the regulations in consultation with the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.
“(5) Union square defined.—In this subsection, the term ‘Union Square’ means the area for which jurisdiction and control was transferred to the Architect of the Capitol under section 1202 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2012 (2 U.S.C. 1811 note).”.
(b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Capitol Trust Account.— Section 213(c) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2014 (40 U.S.C. 5102 note) is amended by striking “subsection (b)(2)” each place it appears and inserting “subsection (b)(2) or section 5106(d) of title 40, United States Code”. <all>
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