Sponsors (12)
The bill expands and regularizes oil and gas leasing to boost jobs, local economic activity, and planning certainty while trading off higher greenhouse-gas and spill risks, potential revenue losses, and reduced executive flexibility to respond to emerging environmental or market concerns.
Energy workers, local governments, and construction and service firms in producing regions see more onshore and offshore leasing and near-term job and business opportunities because the bill mandates regular lease sales beginning FY2025/FY2026.
Energy companies and related small businesses face less regulatory uncertainty because the bill creates predictable leasing schedules that help planning and investment decisions.
Existing leaseholders and their financiers retain rights and stability because the bill preserves valid existing leases from moratorium-related changes.
Rural and coastal communities will face higher greenhouse gas emissions and increased local air and water pollution because the bill mandates expanded fossil fuel leasing.
Coastal and fishing communities face greater risk of oil spills and marine-ecosystem harm from increased leasing in areas like the Gulf and Cook Inlet, threatening livelihoods and local health.
Federal and state taxpayers may receive less revenue because the bill fixes a 12.5% royalty rate for specified leases that could be lower than market- or negotiation-based rates.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Mandates expanded onshore lease sales starting FY2025 and semiannual Gulf of Mexico offshore lease sales starting FY2026, and extends/expands an Eastern Gulf moratorium through 2035.
Official title: Promote domestic energy production, to require onshore and offshore oil and natural gas lease sales, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 6, 2025 by Steve Daines · Last progress February 6, 2025
Requires much more onshore and offshore oil and gas leasing: starting in FY2025 the Interior Department must hold at least four onshore lease sales annually in each listed State and in other leasable States, and beginning in FY2026 must hold at least two region-wide Gulf of Mexico offshore lease sales each year with set sale dates from March 31, 2026 through August 31, 2035. It also extends and expands a moratorium area in the Eastern Gulf to December 31, 2035 while preserving existing valid leases and allowing limited conservation-related leasing exceptions.