John Barrasso (R-WY)
A bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to provide for the payment of bonus payments of certain coal leases issued under that Act.
A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 707.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill proposes an amendment to the Mineral Leasing Act. The change specifically targets coal leases that are issued under a system of deferred bonus payments. Under this amendment, those bonus payments would be required to be paid in 10 equal annual installments. The first of these installments must be submitted at the same time the bid for the lease is made.
Yes
- Scored +2
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill ensures that coal lease bonus payments are collected more predictably through a structured installment schedule starting at the time of the bid.
- Scored +1
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
A more structured collection of lease payments may provide more predictable revenue streams for federal oversight of rural lands.
- Scored +1
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill establishes a more structured and predictable schedule for receiving lease payments.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
The mandate for immediate payment of the first installment increases the initial capital burden on lease bidders.
- Scored -2
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Requiring an upfront installment with the bid increases the immediate capital requirements for businesses participating in coal lease auctions.
- Scored -1
Would farmers be better off under this?
Higher entry costs for resource leases may impact the broader economic landscape for rural-adjacent business interests.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Structured Payment Schedule: The bill establishes a clear system where bonus payments for certain coal leases are paid in 10 equal annual installments. This provides a predictable schedule for the collection of these payments (Section 1).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Requirement for Upfront Payment: The bill requires that the very first of the 10 equal annual installments be submitted alongside the bid for the lease. This means lease bidders must provide some payment at the start of the process rather than waiting (Section 1).
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — A more structured collection of lease payments may provide more predictable revenue streams for federal oversight of rural lands. Would business owners be better off under this? — The mandate for immediate payment of the first installment increases the initial capital burden on lease bidders. Would farmers be better off under this? — Higher entry costs for resource leases may impact the broader economic landscape for rural-adjacent business interests.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill ensures that coal lease bonus payments are collected more predictably through a structured installment schedule starting at the time of the bid. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Requiring an upfront installment with the bid increases the immediate capital requirements for businesses participating in coal lease auctions. Is this likely to create jobs? — The requirement for upfront payments may increase the financial barrier for companies looking to enter coal lease bidding.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — Increasing the upfront costs of coal leases may act as a minor deterrent to new coal production activities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill establishes a more structured and predictable schedule for receiving lease payments.
- 11/12/2026
- 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. 707.
- 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.
- 5/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/28/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S2083)
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana