Bill · H.R. 5419· House(119-HR-5419)
Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act
- Introduced
- 9/17/2025
- Last activity
- 3/4/2026 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Thomas Kean
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
This Act, titled the "Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act," directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct specific studies. The goal is to identify barriers, potential rule revisions, and prioritization processes regarding broadband land use authorizations. These officials must also evaluate the staffing necessary for timely reviews. Within one year of enactment, the Secretaries are required to submit a joint report to appropriate congressional committees. This report must include the findings of their studies and a staffing plan for relevant organizational units.
Yes· 3 of 6
Does this get reliable internet to more people?+5
The bill directly aims to facilitate broadband deployment, which enhances internet access.
Does this invest in rural communities?+4
Streamlining broadband deployment specifically targets increasing connectivity in rural areas through public land use.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+4
Improving broadband deployment via land use studies directly benefits rural residents' connectivity.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Identification of Administrative Barriers: The study seeks to determine if there are programmatic or administrative barriers to the timely review of broadband land use requests (Section 2(a)(1)(A)). This could help streamline the process for establishing communications facilities.
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Improved Efficiency via Rule Revisions: The bill directs officials to look for revisions to rules or regulations that could improve efficiency (Section 2(a)(1)(B)). This may lead to faster processing of requests to locate or modify communications facilities on covered land.
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Prioritization of Requests: The study includes looking for processes to prioritize the review of broadband land use authorizations (Section 2(a)(1)(C)). This could ensure that important communications projects are addressed more quickly.
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Ensuring Adequate Staffing: The required report must include a plan for providing the necessary staffing to ensure timely reviews (Section 2(a)(2)(B)). This aims to ensure that the organizational units have the personnel needed to handle broadband land use requests effectively.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Education And Technology
- Improves Internet Access+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4Improves Public Land Management+1
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+2Increases Job Creation+2
- 3/4/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 3/3/2026
- The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- 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, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2352)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2352)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5419.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2352-2353)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2/24/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-516, Part I.
- Committee on Agriculture discharged.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 441.
- 2/11/2026
- Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 12/11/2025
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 12/4/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
- 9/17/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House