United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

S 4960 — CLEAN Act

Last action — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced July 14, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 16% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill addresses environmental management practices.

This bill proposes measures to manage natural resources and protect the environment. It aims to establish guidelines for sustainable practices.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

1 section in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Geothermal resources · 30 U.S.C. ch. 23 1 section
  • § 1003 Leasing procedures Amends

    30 U.S.C. § 1003 — at 1003(b)

    The law today

    (a) Nominations The Secretary shall accept nominations of land to be leased at any time from qualified companies and individuals under this chapter. (b) Competitive lease sale required (1) In general Except as otherwise specifically provided by this chapter, all land to be leased that is not subject to leasing under subsection (c) shall be leased as provided in this subsection to the highest responsible qualified bidder, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Competitive lease sales The Secretary shall hold a competitive lease sale at least once every 2 years for land in a State that has nominations pending under subsection (a) if the land is otherwise available for leasing. (3) Lands subject to mining claims Lands that are subject to a mining claim for which a plan of operations has been approved by the relevant Federal land management agency may be available for noncompetitive leasing under this section to the mining claim holder. (4) Land subject to oil and gas lease Land under an oil and gas lease issued pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) that is subject to an approved application for permit to drill and from which oil and gas production is occurring may be available for noncompetitive leasing under subsection (c) by the holder of the oil and gas lease— (A) on a determination that geothermal energy will be produced from a well producing or capable of producing oil and gas; and (B) to provide for the coproduction of geothermal energy with oil and gas. (c) Noncompetitive leasing The Secretary shall make available for a period of 2 years for noncompetitive leasing any tract for which a competitive lease sale is held, but for which the Secretary does not receive any bids in a competitive lease sale. (d) Pending lease applications (1) In general It shall be a priority for the Secretary, and for the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to National Forest Systems land, to ensure timely completion of administrative actions, including amendments to applicable forest plans and resource management plans, necessary to process applications for geothermal leasing pending on August 8, 2005.1 All future forest plans and resource management plans for areas with high geothermal resource potential shall consider geothermal leasing and development. (2) Administration An application described in paragraph (1) and any lease issued pursuant to the application— (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), shall be subject to this section as in effect on the day before August 8, 2005; or (B) at the election of the applicant, shall be subject to this section as in effect on August 8, 2005. (e) Leases sold as a block If information is available to the Secretary indicating a geothermal resource that could be produced as 1 unit can reasonably be expected to underlie more than 1 parcel to be offered in a competitive lease sale, the parcels for such a resource may be offered for bidding as a block in the competitive lease sale. (f) Leasing for direct use of geothermal resources Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Secretary may identify areas in which the land to be leased under this chapter exclusively for direct use of geothermal resources, without sale for purposes other than commercial generation of electricity, may be leased to any qualified applicant that first applies for such a lease under regulations issued by the Secretary, if the Secretary— (1) publishes a notice of the land proposed for leasing not later than 90 days before the date of the issuance of the lease; (2) does not receive during the 90-day period beginning on the date of the publication any nomination to include the land concerned in the next competitive lease sale; and (3) determines there is no competitive interest in the geothermal resources in the land to be leased. (g) Area subject to lease for direct use (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), a geothermal lease for the direct use ...

    29 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Also cites: 42 U.S.C. § 4336a

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act to increase the frequency of lease sales and establish requirements for replacement sales and permit processing deadlines.

  • 30 U.S.C. 1003(b)(2)

    ``2 years'' → ``year''

    This change increases the frequency of competitive lease sales from every 2 years to annually.

  • 30 U.S.C. 1003(b)

    ``(3) Replacement sales.--If a lease sale under paragraph (1) for a year is canceled or delayed, the Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a replacement sale during the same year.''

    This addition requires the Secretary to conduct replacement sales if any annual lease sale is canceled or delayed.

  • 30 U.S.C. 1003(b)

    ``(4) Requirement.--Of the nominated parcels eligible for geothermal development and utilization under the resource management plan in effect for the State, the Secretary shall, in conducting a lease sale under paragraph (2), offer for lease-- (A) 75 percent of such nominated parcels; and (B) the remaining 25 percent of such nominated parcels, unless the Secretary provides a written justification that identifies a statutory, environmental, or administrative basis that prevents the Secretary from offering such nominated parcels for lease.''

    This requirement mandates that a certain percentage of nominated parcels be offered for lease, ensuring a minimum level of leasing activity.

  • 30 U.S.C. 1003

    ``(h) Deadlines for Consideration of Geothermal Drilling Permits.-- (1) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an application for any geothermal drilling permit, the Secretary shall-- (A) provide written notice to the applicant that the application is complete; or (B) notify the applicant that information is missing and specify any information that is required to be submitted for the application to be complete.''

    This addition establishes a 30-day deadline for the Secretary to notify applicants regarding the completeness of drilling permit applications.

  • 30 U.S.C. 1003

    ``(2) Issuance or deferral.-- (A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the Secretary has provided written notice to an applicant for a geothermal drilling permit that the application for such permit is complete pursuant to paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall-- (i) issue the permit, if the requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and other applicable law have been completed within such timeframe; or (ii) defer the decision on the permit and provide to the applicant a notice-- (I) that specifies any steps that the applicant could take for the permit to be issued; and (II) that includes a list of actions that need to be taken by the agency to comply with applicable law, together with timelines and deadlines for taking such actions, which shall not exceed the deadlines specified in section 107(g) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336a(g)).''

    This addition sets a 30-day deadline for issuing or deferring decisions on geothermal drilling permits after the application is deemed complete.

  • 30 U.S.C. 1003

    ``(B) Deadline for deferred decisions.--If the Secretary defers a decision on a permit under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary shall issue a decision on the permit not later than 10 days after the applicant takes any steps specified pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) and the agency takes the actions listed pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) in accordance with any applicable timelines and deadlines.''

    This creates a 10-day deadline for the Secretary to decide on a permit after the applicant complies with specified requirements.

Action History

  1. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

  2. Introduced in Senate

  3. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 546 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

environment energy
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 4960?
S 4960 is sponsored by Risch, James E. (Republican).
What is the current status of S 4960?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced July 14, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 4960?
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