A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Became Public Law No: 119-134.
Became law
Passed both chambers and was signed by the President, or became law without a signature.
Nothing more in Congress: it is law. When it takes effect depends on the dates written into it — some parts start at once, others a year or more later.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- To President
- Became Law
No one's position on it was recorded: the House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together), and the Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote).
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the License to Drill Act. It amends the Mineral Leasing Act to extend the time period for the Secretary of the Interior to collect a fee for each new application for a permit to drill. The bill changes the collection and fee extension end date from the year 2026 to the year 2037. It also directs the transfer of all collected fees for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2037 straight to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund. Finally, it extends the termination date for these specific provisions from 2026 to 2037.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill benefits energy industry business owners by ensuring streamlined permit processing.
- Scored +2
Is this likely to create jobs?
Extending drilling permit fee collection may support continued oil and gas industry activity and employment.
- Scored +1
Is this likely to lower the price at the pump?
Increased production capacity may have a long-term effect on stabilizing energy prices.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -3
Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced?
The bill is designed to support rather than reduce fossil fuel production.
- Scored -2
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
Extending fossil fuel permit processing may facilitate increased carbon emissions from drilling activities.
- Scored -2
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
Expanded drilling activity may negatively impact lands of historical and cultural importance to Native communities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2 extends the fee collection and sends all of those collected fees directly to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund for fiscal years 2027 through 2037, which could provide steady funding for processing permits during that time.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2 extends the requirement for the Secretary of the Interior to collect a fee for each new application for a permit to drill all the way through the year 2037, which places a continuing fee burden on applicants.
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 better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill provides dedicated funds specifically to improve BLM permit processing efficiency on public lands. Is this likely to lower the price at the pump? — Increased production capacity may have a long-term effect on stabilizing energy prices. Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — The bill is designed to support rather than reduce fossil fuel production. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Extending fossil fuel permit processing may facilitate increased carbon emissions from drilling activities. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill focuses on facilitating drilling rather than enhancing environmental safeguards.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill benefits energy industry business owners by ensuring streamlined permit processing. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill supports industry activities that often provide economic benefits to rural areas. Would union members be better off under this? — Support for the oil and gas industry may indirectly support associated labor unions. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Expanded drilling activity may negatively impact lands of historical and cultural importance to Native communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Extending drilling permit fee collection may support continued oil and gas industry activity and employment. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill provides sustained funding for BLM processing, which facilitates energy production.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill extends the federal government's authority to collect and manage fees for drilling permits.
- Public Law (10/21/2026)
The text as it became law
- Enrolled Bill
The final version, on its way to the President
What changed from Reported to Senate: No change to the wording. Only the printed details that record the bill’s progress, such as the heading and dates, are different.
- 10/20/2026
- Signed by President.
- Became Public Law No: 119-134.
- 10/15/2026
- Presented to President.
- 10/14/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 9/30/2026
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5226-5231)
- 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. 665.
- 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
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3757)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3757)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7831.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3757-3578)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 5/20/2026
- Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-665.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 579.
- 5/14/2026
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
- 4/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/25/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 3/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/18/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
- 3/5/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Stephanie BiceRepublican · Oklahoma
Harriet HagemanRepublican · Wyoming
Celeste MaloyRepublican · Utah