A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 663.
Waiting for a floor vote in the other chamber
Passed one chamber and is on the other chamber's calendar.
The calendar is a queue, not a date. The majority leadership decides what comes to the floor and when; much of what is placed on it is never called, and a bill that is never called simply expires with the Congress.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- Awaiting Senate
- On Senate calendar
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act and aims to promote responsible geothermal energy development on public lands. It sets rules for processing geothermal leases and permits even when there are pending civil actions, unless a Federal court steps in. The legislation allows the Secretary of the Interior to recover reasonable administrative and inspection costs from geothermal lease applicants and holders through September 30, 2033. It requires the publication of an updated Gold Book standard procedures guide for geothermal operations within a specific timeframe. The bill also establishes a Geothermal Ombudsman and a Geothermal Permitting Task Force to streamline and monitor permit processing practices. Finally, it updates royalty structures and applies certain National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review provisions to geothermal resource exploration and development.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?
Provides tools and regulatory certainty to advance geothermal energy projects.
- Scored +5
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
Promotes geothermal energy, which is a renewable and low-carbon energy source.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Provides regulatory certainty and faster timelines for energy developers.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
Mandates faster permit processing regardless of pending civil actions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2: Requires the Secretary to approve or deny geothermal applications within 60 days after completing all necessary environmental and federal laws, even if there is a pending civil action, which can speed up project decisions unless a federal court stops it.
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Section 5: Directs the Secretary to publish an updated Gold Book that sets standard procedures and guidelines for efficient and environmentally responsible geothermal leasing and permitting, helping operators follow clear rules.
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Section 6: Establishes a Geothermal Ombudsman and a Geothermal Permitting Task Force to provide dispute resolution, monitor timelines, and develop best practices, which can make the government work more smoothly for people dealing with permits.
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Section 6: Allows the Geothermal Ombudsman to pay retention allowances of up to 25 percent of basic pay to qualified assigned personnel with specialized expertise, helping the government hold onto skilled workers.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 3: Permits the Secretary to require applicants or holders of geothermal leases to reimburse the United States for all reasonable administrative and other costs for processing, inspecting, and monitoring activities through September 30, 2033, which creates a financial burden for individuals and groups developing these resources.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — Provides tools and regulatory certainty to advance geothermal energy projects. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Promotes geothermal energy, which is a renewable and low-carbon energy source. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Standardizes and updates procedures for managing geothermal on public lands. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Requires updated procedures for environmentally responsible development. Does this invest in rural communities? — Geothermal development can occur on public lands often located in rural areas. Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — Indirectly shifts focus from fossil fuels toward geothermal renewables.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Provides regulatory certainty and faster timelines for energy developers. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Geothermal development may occur on rural public lands.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Streamlining geothermal permitting may encourage development and industry growth. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Promotes renewable energy development which contributes to economic activity. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Establishes cost recovery mechanisms for administrative and monitoring expenses.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Strengthens the Secretary's authority over permit timelines and cost recovery. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires public reporting on geothermal program effectiveness and cost recovery. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Mandates faster permit processing regardless of pending civil actions.
- 9/17/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 663.
- 7/29/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 7/15/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
- 6/3/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 6/2/2026
- The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H3760-3761)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5631.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3760-3765)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 5/20/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-660.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 574.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/19/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 3/5/2026
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 12/16/2025
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 12/9/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
- 9/30/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Mike KennedyRepublican · Utah
Susie LeeDemocrat · Nevada
Celeste MaloyRepublican · Utah
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezDemocrat · New York