H.R. 1366 Passed the House Environmental Protection

Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

To provide for the location of multiple hardrock mining mill sites, to establish the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] Introduced February 14, 2025 Cosponsors 2 (1 D, 1 R) Latest action March 17, 2026

Summary

Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining, such as waste disposal, regardless of whether those lands contain mineral deposits valuable enough to be mined (mineral validity). It also establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund.
The bill addresses a 2022 decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit related to the Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona (commonly known as the Rosemont decision, described further in CRS Report R48166). The court held that mining claims are only allowed where mineral validity has been established and that mill site claims are more appropriate means for establishing a mining waste disposal site under the Mining Act.
The bill allows a mining operator to (1) locate and include within its plan of operations as many mill site claims (e.g., areas for waste rock disposal) as are reasonably necessary for its operations, and (2) use or occupy public land in accordance with an approved plan of operations.
Additionally, the bill requires any revenue generated from fees for such mill site claims to be deposited into the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. The Department of the Interior must use the fund for certain abandoned hardrock mine reclamation activities.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Roll-call votes

Actions

  1. Mar 17, 2026 Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 357.
  2. Dec 18, 2025 Received in the Senate.
  3. Dec 18, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  4. Dec 18, 2025 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 198 (Roll no. 358). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H6044)
  5. Dec 18, 2025 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 198 (Roll no. 358).
  6. Dec 18, 2025 On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 205 - 213 (Roll no. 357).
  7. Dec 18, 2025 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6069-6070)
  8. Dec 18, 2025 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 1366, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. Leger Fernandez demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
  9. Dec 18, 2025 The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
  10. Dec 18, 2025 Ms. Leger Fernandez moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H6049)
  11. Dec 18, 2025 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  12. Dec 18, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1366.

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