Bill · H.R. 5638· House(119-HR-5638)
Geothermal Royalty Reform Act
- Introduced
- 9/30/2025
- Last activity
- 5/20/2026 — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 575.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Kennedy
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Geothermal Royalty Reform Act. It amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. The text requires royalties on production from leased geothermal resources to be based on production from each electric generating facility. It adds definitions for a geothermal electric generating facility and an in-service date. It changes how the 10-year period for royalty rates is calculated based on the in-service date of the facility.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would business owners be better off under this?+6
Energy companies benefit from a royalty structure that tracks specific facility lifecycles rather than the overall lease duration.
Does this cut taxes for small businesses?+5
By resetting the 10-year royalty period to the facility's in-service date, the bill provides more favorable long-term royalty terms for new geothermal facility investments.
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?+5
The bill facilitates geothermal energy development by aligning royalty periods with when specific facilities actually begin operating.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2(b) changes the calculation for the 10-year period of royalty rates to begin following the in-service date of the geothermal electric generating facility, which could clearly define when specific royalty rates apply to a facility.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based on the provided text, there are no explicitly mentioned negative impacts or burdens for individuals or groups of people.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Small Business Taxes+5Improves Economic Growth+4Improves Small Business Support+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+6Good For Farmers+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Increases Renewable Energy Investment+5
- 5/20/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-661.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 575.
- 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
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 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
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.
Nicholas BegichRepublican · Alaska