Bill · H.R. 7831· House(119-HR-7831)
License to Drill Act
- Introduced
- 3/5/2026
- Last activity
- 9/30/2026 — Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5226-5231)
- Sponsored by
- Mike Kennedy
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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
Would business owners be better off under this?+3
The bill benefits energy industry business owners by ensuring streamlined permit processing.
Is this likely to create jobs?+2
Extending drilling permit fee collection may support continued oil and gas industry activity and employment.
Is this likely to lower the price at the pump?+1
Increased production capacity may have a long-term effect on stabilizing energy prices.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced?-3
The bill is designed to support rather than reduce fossil fuel production.
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?-2
Extending fossil fuel permit processing may facilitate increased carbon emissions from drilling activities.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?-2
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. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Land Management+1Reduces Gas Prices+1Reduces Fossil Fuel Production-3Reduces Carbon Emissions-2Improves Environmental Protections-1
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+3Good For Rural Residents+1Good For Union Workers+1Good For Native Americans-2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+2Improves Economic Growth+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+1
- 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.
- 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