Sponsors (12)
The bill expands oil and gas leasing to boost jobs, local revenue, and industry predictability while increasing local pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and fiscal and conservation risks for taxpayers and nearby communities.
Workers in oil and gas regions will likely see more leasing and drilling activity, creating new drilling and support jobs.
Local and state governments (and taxpayers indirectly) in lease areas will likely receive increased lease bonus, rental, and royalty revenue from expanded leasing.
Existing leaseholders and the energy industry gain greater regulatory predictability because the bill preserves Gulf moratoria through 2035 while setting a firm 12.5% royalty rate and a 90-day issuance deadline, which can speed project starts and reduce policy uncertainty.
All Americans face increased greenhouse gas emissions and worsened climate and air-quality outcomes because expanded onshore and offshore leasing increases fossil fuel production.
Households and communities near lease areas — including rural and coastal residents — will face higher local air and water pollution and greater spill/accident risk as drilling activity expands.
Taxpayers may receive less federal revenue per unit of production because the bill fixes a relatively low 12.5% royalty rate instead of higher or competitively set terms.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Mandates minimum annual onshore and offshore oil/gas lease sales in specified States and regions, schedules Gulf and Cook Inlet sales, and extends certain Eastern Gulf moratoria through 2035.
Introduced February 6, 2025 by Steve Daines · Last progress February 6, 2025
Requires the Interior Department to hold a set minimum number of oil and gas lease sales onshore and offshore over coming years, schedules specific Gulf and Cook Inlet sales, and extends and modifies an existing Eastern Gulf moratorium while adding other moratorium areas. Onshore lease sales must begin in fiscal year 2025 and cover several named states; region-wide Gulf of Mexico offshore sales must begin in fiscal year 2026 and follow specified sale terms; Cook Inlet must have at least six sales over the next ten years.