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Modifies subsection (b) of the Geothermal Steam Act leasing procedures to change competitive lease sale frequency language and add a replacement-sales requirement.
Rewrites and reorganizes the Secretary's rules-and-regulations authority under the Geothermal Steam Act, and adds a new cost-recovery subsection requiring the Secretary to prescribe rules for cost recovery to be paid by permit applicants or lessees.
Amends the Energy Policy Act NEPA-related provision to incorporate geothermal resources into specified subsections.
Adds a new statutory provision prohibiting the Secretary from requiring a Federal drilling permit for specified geothermal exploration or production activities conducted on non-Federal surface estates when certain conditions are met, and establishes related State-notification and access-agreement requirements, inspection authority, royalty preservation, and exceptions for Indian lands and trust/restricted Indian-held title.
Amends section 17(g) of the Mineral Leasing Act to add or revise language governing regulation of surface-disturbing activities, to define 'operator' for geothermal exploration/production, and to limit certain Secretary authorities with respect to specified non-Federal land in drilling/spacing units.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced February 3, 2026 by Josh Harder · Last progress February 3, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House