United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee 4 R cosponsors

HR 5576 — Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act

Last action — Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 16.

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

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced September 26, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 22% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (4 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

20 added · 82 removed

Plain-language change summary

The changes to HR 5576 include the removal of the section on Geothermal Leasing Priority Areas, which defined the criteria and responsibilities for designating certain federal lands for geothermal energy development. This means that the specific provisions around identifying and prioritizing land for geothermal leasing are no longer part of the bill. The amendment also added additional sponsors and included details about the bill's status in the legislative process, but the key effect is the elimination of the geothermal leasing framework.

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Latest
5576 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
5576 Reported in House (RH)] <DOC> Union Calendar No.
674 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
5576 To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
5576 [Report No.
119-773] To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources August 27, 2026 Additional sponsors:
Ms.
Maloy, Mr.
Kennedy of Utah, and Mr.
Begich August 27, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 26, 2025] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
GEOTHERMAL LEASING PRIORITY AREAS.
The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C.
1001 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC.
31.
GEOTHERMAL LEASING PRIORITY AREAS.
``(a) Definition of Covered Land.--In this section, the term `covered land' means land that is-- ``(1) Federal land;
and ``(2) not excluded from the development of geothermal energy under-- ``(A) a land use plan established under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1701 et seq.);
or ``(B) any other Federal law.
``(b) Designation of Geothermal Leasing Priority Areas.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall designate portions of covered land as geothermal leasing priority areas as soon as practicable, but not later than 3 years, after the date of enactment of this section.
``(c) Criteria for Selection.--In determining which covered lands to designate as geothermal leasing priority areas under subsection (b), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall consider if-- ``(1) the covered land is preferable for geothermal leasing;
``(2) production of geothermal energy on such land is economically viable, including if such land has access to methods of energy transmission;
and ``(3) the designation would be in compliance with section of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1712), including subsection (c)(9) of such section.
``(d) Review and Modification.--Not less frequently than once every years, the Secretary shall-- ``(1) review covered land and, if appropriate, make additional designations of geothermal leasing priority areas;
and ``(2) review each area designated as a geothermal leasing priority area under this section, and, if appropriate, remove such designation.
``(e) Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.-- ``(1) Initial designations.--Not later than one year after the initial designation of a geothermal leasing priority area, the Secretary shall prepare a supplement to any final programmatic environmental impact statement for geothermal leasing that is the most recently finalized such statement with respect to covered land designated as a geothermal leasing priority area under subsection (b).
``(2) Subsequent designations.--Each designation of a geothermal leasing priority area under subsection (b) shall be included in a programmatic environmental impact statement for geothermal leasing or in a supplement to such a statement.
``(3) Consultations.--In developing any programmatic environmental impact statement for geothermal leasing or supplement to such a statement under this section, the Secretary shall consult, on an ongoing basis, with appropriate State, Tribal, and local governments, transmission infrastructure owners and operators, developers, and other appropriate entities.
``(4) Procedure.--The Secretary may not delay issuing a permit or holding a lease sale under this Act because the supplement required under paragraph (1) has not been finalized by the Secretary.
``(f) Compliance With NEPA.--If the designation of a geothermal leasing priority area has been analyzed by a programmatic environmental document-- ``(1) during the period of 10 years that begins on the date such programmatic environmental document is issued, the Secretary shall not prepare any additional analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) with respect to geothermal lease sales for such geothermal leasing priority area unless the Secretary determines there are substantial new circumstances or information about the significance of adverse effects that bear on the analysis;
and ``(2) after such period of 10 years, the Secretary shall not prepare any additional analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) with respect to geothermal lease sales for such geothermal leasing priority area if the Secretary reevaluates the analysis in the programmatic environmental document and any underlying assumption to ensure reliance on the analysis remains valid.''.
SEC.
4.
<all>
Union Calendar No.
674 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
R.
5576 [Report No.
Show all 42 changed rows (2 more)
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Latest
119-773] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote timely exploration for geothermal resources under geothermal leases, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ August 27, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
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What Congress says this changes

H. Rept. 119-773

Published by the reporting committee Not generated — this is the committee's own “Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported”.

Text to be removed appears in [brackets]. Newly inserted text is italicised in the official report and cannot be marked in this plain-text rendition — read the official PDF ↗ for the authoritative formatting. 

changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is 
printed in italics):

 GEOTHERMAL STEAM ACT OF 1970

 * * * * * * *

SEC. 30. GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION PROJECTS.

 (a) Definitions.--In this section:
 (1) Geothermal exploration project.--The term 
 ``geothermal exploration project'' means the drilling 
 of a temperature gradient well, monitoring well, 
 calibration well, or another geothermal exploratory 
 well, including construction or making improvements for 
 such activities, on lands for which the Secretary has 
 issued a geothermal lease--
 (A) that is carried out by the holder of the 
 lease;
 (B) for which--
 (i) the last cemented casing string 
 has an outer diameter of less than 
 13\3/8\ inches; and
 (ii) the total unreclaimed surface 
 disturbance at any one time within the 
 project area is less than 8 acres, not 
 including the area of a permanent or 
 temporary access road;
 (C) that is completed in less than 180 days, 
 including the removal of any surface 
 infrastructure from the project area; and
 (D) that requires the restoration of the 
 project area within 3 years of the date of 
 first exploration drilling to approximately the 
 condition that existed at the time the project 
 began, unless the project area is subsequently 
 used as part of energy development under the 
 lease.
 (2) Covered activity.--The term ``covered activity'' 
 includes, with respect to exploration, development, or 
 production (including direct use) of geothermal 
 resources--
 (A) geotechnical investigations;
 (B) off-road travel in a right-of-way 
 established by Congress, granted by a Federal 
 agency, or included in a land use plan; and
 (C) construction, maintenance, realignment, 
 and repair of an existing permanent or 
 temporary access road within a right-of-way 
 established by Congress, granted by a Federal 
 agency, or included in a land use plan.
 (b) Non-Major Federal Action.--Geothermal exploration 
projects and covered activities shall not be considered major 
Federal actions under section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
 (c) Requirement To Provide Notice.--The holder of a 
geothermal lease shall provide to the Secretary notice of their 
intent to carry out a geothermal exploration project at least 
30 days before the start of drilling under the project.

Source: H. Rept. 119-773 · govinfo

How this bill changes current law

1 change Share ↗

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

The bill adds new provisions for geothermal exploration projects under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 and exempts certain projects from being classified as major Federal actions.

  • 30 U.S.C. § 1001

    SEC. 30. GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION PROJECTS. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Geothermal exploration project.--The term `geothermal exploration project' means the drilling of a temperature gradient well, monitoring well, calibration well, or another geothermal exploratory well, including construction or making improvements for such activities, on lands for which the Secretary has issued a geothermal lease-- (A) that is carried out by the holder of the lease; (B) for which-- (i) the last cemented casing string has an outer diameter of less than 13\3/8\ inches; and (ii) the total unreclaimed surface disturbance at any one time within the project area is less than 8 acres, not including the area of a permanent or temporary access road; (C) that is completed in less than 180 days, including the removal of any surface infrastructure from the project area; and (D) that requires the restoration of the project area within 3 years of the date of first exploration drilling to approximately the condition that existed at the time the project began, unless the project area is subsequently used as part of energy development under the lease. (2) Covered activity.--The term `covered activity' includes, with respect to exploration, development, or production (including direct use) of geothermal resources-- (A) geotechnical investigations; (B) off-road travel in a right-of-way established by Congress, granted by a Federal agency, or included in a land use plan; and (C) construction, maintenance, realignment, and repair of an existing permanent or temporary access road within a right-of-way established by Congress, granted by a Federal agency, or included in a land use plan. (b) Non-Major Federal Action.--Geothermal exploration projects and covered activities shall not be considered major Federal actions under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). (c) Requirement To Provide Notice.--The holder of a geothermal lease shall provide to the Secretary notice of their intent to carry out a geothermal exploration project at least 30 days before the start of drilling under the project.

    This creates a new section outlining definitions and requirements for geothermal exploration projects, as well as exempting them from major Federal action classification.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

  5. Subcommittee Hearings Held

  6. Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged

  7. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  8. Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 16.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 543 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (543)

543 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 543 →

"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

energy
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HR 5576?
HR 5576 is sponsored by Fulcher, Russ (Republican), Maloy, Celeste (Republican), Kennedy, Mike (Republican), and Begich, Nicholas J. (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 5576?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced September 26, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 5576?
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