House Passes American Music Tourism Act

The US House of Representatives passed the American Music Tourism Act by voice vote on September 15, adopting the Senate's text. The bill now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. The legislation would add music to the tourism-promotion duties of the Commerce Department under the Visit America Act. cite

S. 195 directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to identify US locations and events important to music tourism and promote travel to them. It would expand the international travel provision to cover business and leisure travel. The Act defines music tourism in federal law to include travel to museums, studios, venues, festivals, concerts, live performances and music-related special events.

The Assistant Secretary must report to congressional committees within a year of enactment and every two years afterward. Diana Harshbarger said the bipartisan American Music Tourism Act is headed to President Trump's desk after more than two years of work. Harshbarger introduced the House version, H.R. 617, on January 22, 2025, with Nanette Barragán as co-lead. The Senate passed S. 195 by unanimous consent on May 14, 2025.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that implementation costs would be less than USD $500,000 over 2025-2030. cite