HR 4684 United States House · 119th Congress

Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2026

HR 4684, the Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025, grants a 10-year special use permit for maintaining a U.S. flag at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point in Utah's Uinta National Forest. The permit is first issued to Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah, or if he declines, to a qualified local resident or nonprofit with experience caring for flagpoles, prioritizing previous permit holders. Key provisions include exemption from land use fees, a process for renewal, and an explicit exemption from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The bill directly affects only the specific location and the designated permit holder(s) at Kyhv Peak, with no broader policy changes.

Issues: ✗ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Jul 23, 2025 Last action May 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 7 edits · May 19, 2026

MODERATE

The Engrossed version of HR 4684 makes several substantive changes: it removes a named individual (Robert S. Collins) as the first-priority permit recipient and replaces that with broader criteria based on prior applications and longstanding seasonal flag-display practices; it expands the scope of the permit to include installation, operation, and removal; it adds an exemption from cost recovery fees; and it adds a requirement that activities be limited to the smallest practicable area. The act's title year was also updated from 2025 to 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope broadened in two ways: (1) the permit now covers the full lifecycle of the flagpole (installation through removal) rather than just placement and maintenance, and (2) eligibility for the permit shifted from a single named individual to a broader set of criteria based on prior applications and longstanding practice, making it applicable to more potential recipients.

ELIGIBILITY

The first-priority permit recipient changed from a named individual (Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah) to any individual who submitted a special use permit application to display the flag seasonally on Kyhv Peak prior to March 5, 2026. A second tier was added for individuals with a longstanding seasonal practice of displaying the flag at the location prior to enactment.

SCOPE

The special use permit now covers installation, operation, maintenance, and removal of the flagpole, rather than just placing and maintenance. The phrase 'notwithstanding any other provision of law' was added to strengthen the mandate.

FISCAL

A new subsection (e) exempts permit holders from cost recovery fees under section 251.58 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations.

REQUIREMENT

A new subsection (h) requires the Secretary to ensure that activities and access authorized by the act are limited to the smallest practicable area.

ENFORCEMENT

The old provision prohibiting permit holders from accepting anything of value in exchange for identifying a successor person was removed, consistent with the removal of the identification-based succession mechanism.

TIMELINE

The act's short title changed from 'Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025' to 'Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2026.'

TECHNICAL

The renewal trigger list was expanded to include a new trigger for when the permit holder requests revocation, and the term 'early termination' was replaced with 'revocation' throughout.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 20, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

upper

May 19, 2026

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3570)

lower

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3570)

lower

May 19, 2026

Introduced

Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-584.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee Hearings Held

lower

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

lower

Jul 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

lower

Jul 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors