Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 336.
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, known as the "La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act," authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey approximately 3,400 acres of federal land to La Paz County, Arizona. The land is currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The conveyance is to occur as soon as practicable after the County requests it. The land must be transferred at fair market value based on professional appraisals. Additionally, the bill includes specific protections for Tribal cultural artifacts. Finally, the land is withdrawn from the operation of United States mining and mineral leasing laws.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +6
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides specific protections for Tribal cultural artifacts and coordination requirements.
- Scored +5
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill is titled for solar energy, which typically supports renewable energy goals.
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?
The act facilitates land acquisition for solar energy projects.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill involves a federal land conveyance process requiring administrative oversight.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Cultural Resources: The bill requires La Paz County and any future owners to make good faith efforts to avoid disturbing Tribal artifacts and to minimize impacts if they are disturbed (Section 3(d)).
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Tribal Involvement in Heritage Preservation: The County must coordinate with the Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Historic Preservation Office to identify significant artifacts and must allow Tribal representatives to rebury unearthed artifacts at or near the discovery site (Section 3(d)).
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Environmental and Recreational Safeguards: The Secretary is directed to exclude any Federal land from the conveyance that contains significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational resources (Section 3(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Burden on the County: La Paz County is required to pay the appraised fair market value of the land, as well as all costs related to the conveyance, including surveys, appraisals, and administrative costs (Section 3(c) and Section 3(g)).
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Restriction on Resource Extraction: The land is withdrawn from the operation of United States mining and mineral leasing laws (Section 3(f)).
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? — The act facilitates land acquisition for solar energy projects. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill is titled for solar energy, which typically supports renewable energy goals. Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — The bill withdraws the land from mining and mineral leasing laws. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill mandates the exclusion of land with significant environmental or wildlife resources. Does this invest in rural communities? — Land conveyance can support local development in La Paz County. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill formalizes land transfer while protecting cultural and environmental assets.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides specific protections for Tribal cultural artifacts and coordination requirements. Would business owners be better off under this? — The land transfer facilitates potential solar energy and development businesses. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill supports job creation and local land control for La Paz County.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill's title suggests it aims to facilitate solar energy and job creation through land conveyance. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Land transfer to the county facilitates local energy and economic development projects.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill transfers control of federal land to the local county government. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the map to be available for public inspection. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill involves a federal land conveyance process requiring administrative oversight.
- 2/11/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-107.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 336.
- 9/11/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 3/10/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor 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.
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona