Bill · S. 4795· Senate(119-S-4795)
FREEDOM Act
- Introduced
- 6/16/2026
- Last activity
- 6/16/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Tom Cotton
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "FREEDOM Act" aims to speed up the authorization process for energy and mineral projects by setting strict federal deadlines for permits. It allows project sponsors to sue agencies that miss these deadlines and permits the use of court-approved contractors to complete necessary documentation. The bill also protects "fully permitted projects" from being halted by federal officials without specific, substantiated harm or illegalities. Additionally, it provides regulatory clarity for hardrock mining mill sites and introduces several advancements for geothermal energy development, including a new Ombudsman and updated operating guidelines.
Yes· 3 of 20
Would business owners be better off under this?+6
Significantly reduces regulatory uncertainty and permitting timelines for energy and mining businesses.
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?+5
It specifically promotes the development of geothermal energy through an Ombudsman and updated guidelines.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+4
Mining and geothermal projects are typically rural, providing economic activity to these areas.
The opposite
Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced?-4
By expediting mineral and energy project permits, it likely increases fossil fuel and mineral extraction.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-3
The bill limits the government's ability to halt fully permitted projects and streamlines NEPA reviews.
Does this give the federal government more power?-3
The bill limits the discretion of federal agencies to halt projects and introduces judicial remedies against the government.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Lower Cost of Living: The bill's findings suggest that reducing regulatory uncertainty and permitting delays can lower the cost of building energy and mineral infrastructure, which in turn may lower the cost of living for families and reduce power prices for homes and businesses (Sec. 2).
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Faster Energy Infrastructure: By establishing deadlines of 90 days for routine authorizations and 1 year for complex authorizations, the bill aims to prevent catastrophic financial losses for project sponsors and encourage investment in energy infrastructure (Sec. 12102).
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Geothermal Energy Support: The creation of a Geothermal Ombudsman and a Permitting Task Force is intended to facilitate permit processing and develop best practices for geothermal resources (Sec. 304).
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Mining Resource Management: The bill allows for the location of mill site claims that are reasonably necessary for mineral development, while creating an Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund to carry out cleanup activities (Sec. 201).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Burden on Geothermal Applicants: The Secretary of the Interior may now require geothermal lease applicants or holders to reimburse the United States for all reasonable administrative and inspection costs (Sec. 302).
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Increased Geothermal Royalties: The bill modifies the Geothermal Steam Act to impose royalties on electricity produced from geothermal resources, ranging from 1% to 5% of gross proceeds depending on the age of the facility (Sec. 305).
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Limited Federal Oversight: The bill prohibits federal officials from halting or suspending "fully permitted projects" unless there is a clear, immediate, and substantiated harm or the authorization is illegal, which limits the government's ability to stop projects (Sec. 12301).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+6Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Billionaires+3Good For High Net Worth Individuals+3Good For Ultra High Net Worth Individuals+3Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Middle Class Households+2Good For Union Workers+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+4Increases Job Creation+3Improves Small Business Support+2Reduces Inflation+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Increases Renewable Energy Investment+5Improves Rural Development+3Improves Public Land Management+2Reduces Carbon Emissions+2Reduces Gas Prices+2Reduces Fossil Fuel Production-4Improves Environmental Protections-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+2Improves Interstate Commerce+2Improves Government Transparency+1Increases Federal Power-3
- 6/16/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada