The National Park Quarter bill will create at least 56 newly designed quarters over a ten-year period for national parks and sites in each state, D.C. and U.S. Territory. The bill (H.R.6184) passed in the U.S. House on July 9, 2008 opening the door for its next steps.

The Senate must now consider and pass it.

In a supportive move, Senator John Barrasso introduced an identical vesion (S.3214) on June 26, 2008. This version or that of the House will eventually get scheduled for a Senate up or down vote. (There is a chance both bills will die in silence in some committee forever. An article by an online news site for coin collectors suggests the odds are small.)

There are, of course, no guarantees the bill becomes law. However, while some collectors dislike the idea of another new quarter series, their disdain hasn’t been similarly voiced by members of congress.

After Senate passage by vote, any differences between the House and Senate versions will need to be reconciled, voted on again and then a final version sent to the President for signing. Once signed, the bill becomes law.