Summary

Changes how federal easement, right-of-way, and lease applications are judged complete and creates an automatic “deemed granted” rule: if an executive agency does not grant or deny a complete application by the existing statutory deadline, the application is treated as granted the day after that deadline. The bill replaces the old “duly filed” standard with a new definition of “complete,” defines when an application is considered received, and applies to applications received on or after enactment.

• Replaces "duly filed" with a new, statutory definition of "complete" for certain federal land-use applications.
• Creates an automatic "deemed granted" outcome if an executive agency fails to grant or deny a complete application by the statutory deadline.
• Defines "complete" to include taking the first procedural step under agency rules and not receiving an agency notice of incompleteness within 30 days.
• Clarifies when an application is "received" for timing purposes, with a special rule if the agency fails to issue a 30-day notice.
• Applies only to applications received on or after the law's enactment date.
• Shifts procedural risk to agencies: missing the 30-day notice or the statutory decision deadline can produce automatic approvals.
• Can speed project deployment for applicants but may reduce agency control over review timing and sequencing.
• Does not explicitly change substantive permitting standards or fund implementation.
• May increase litigation risk as stakeholders challenge automatic approvals or agency inaction.
• Affects federal executive agencies that process easement/right-of-way/lease applications and the applicants who seek those approvals.