119-S-2417 Journalist Public Summary
119 · S 2417 Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025
A Utah-focused bill would order the U.S. Forest Service to issue a 10‑year, fee‑free permit allowing a community member to place and maintain a U.S. flag on a flagpole at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point, with future renewals prioritized for the current holder; it also waives NEPA review for these actions and recently received a Senate subcommittee hearing on February 12, 2026.
Headline Summary
A short, Utah‑specific bill would require the Forest Service to let a local resident (or local nonprofit/volunteer group) place and maintain a U.S. flag on a flagpole at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point for 10 years, with no land‑use fees and no NEPA review.
What It Does
The Star‑Spangled Summit Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Agriculture (through the U.S. Forest Service) to issue a special use permit for a flagpole bearing the U.S. flag at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point in the Uinta National Forest overlooking Utah Valley. The first permit runs 10 years and, by name, is to be offered to Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah; if he declines, it goes to a “qualified person” from Utah County (an individual, nonprofit, or volunteer group with relevant experience). The Secretary may set care and safety conditions, authorize necessary access to the site, and terminate early for noncompliance. The bill bars the permit holder from accepting anything of value for naming a successor, exempts the permit from federal land‑use fees, and states that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will not apply to issuing, renewing, or administering this permit.
- Location: Kyhv Peak Lookout Point (Uinta National Forest, overlooking Utah Valley).
- Permit: 10‑year term; issue within 180 days of enactment; renew/new permit every 10 years or when the current holder steps down or is terminated.
- Who can hold it: Named individual first (Robert S. Collins). Otherwise, a local individual or Utah County nonprofit/volunteer group with flagpole experience.
- Priority for next holder: (1) prior permit holder; (2) a person the prior holder identifies; (3) other qualified applicants.
- Fees and review: No federal land‑use fees; NEPA expressly does not apply to the permit’s issuance, renewal, or administration.
- Access and safety: Forest Service can authorize reasonable access, subject to public‑safety and resource‑protection conditions.
Key Details at a Glance
Who’s For It
- Sponsors: Senators John Curtis (R‑UT) and Mike Lee (R‑UT).
- Likely local supporters: Individuals and volunteer groups who want a community‑maintained U.S. flag at a well‑known overlook and prefer a straightforward, long‑term permit without fees or added paperwork.
- Process‑focused backers: Those who view this as a narrow, site‑specific authorization with clear upkeep rules and penalties for noncompliance.
Who’s Against It
- Public‑lands and environmental‑review advocates may object to the blanket NEPA exemption, arguing it sets a precedent for bypassing environmental review on permanent structures on federal land.
- Good‑governance critics could question naming a private individual in statute and the succession priority that lets a current holder identify the next, seeing it as too personalized for public land.
- Some civil‑liberties or viewpoint‑neutrality advocates might worry about implications of authorizing a specific expressive display on federal land, preferring general rules over site‑specific legislation.
What’s Next
Status as of February 13, 2026: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining held a hearing on February 12, 2026. Next, the subcommittee could vote to advance the bill to the full committee for a markup. If approved there, it would go to the full Senate, then the House, and finally to the President for signature or veto.
Discussion