H.R. 7831 Passed both chambers Energy

License to Drill Act

To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to extend the period of time during which the Secretary of the Interior is required to collect a fee for each new application for a permit to drill, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3] Introduced March 5, 2026 Cosponsors 3 (3 R) Latest action September 30, 2026

Summary

License to Drill Act
This bill extends through FY2037 the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) authority to collect oil and gas permit processing fees. For each new permit application, BLM collects a fee that is transferred to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund. (Under current law, the fees are authorized through FY2026.)

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Sep 30, 2026 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5226-5231)
  2. Sep 30, 2026 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  3. Sep 17, 2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 665.
  4. Sep 17, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
  5. Jul 29, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
  6. Jul 15, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
  7. Jun 3, 2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  8. Jun 2, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  9. Jun 2, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3757)
  10. Jun 2, 2026 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7831.
  11. Jun 2, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3757-3578)
  12. Jun 2, 2026 Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

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