119-HR-7831 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A narrow bill to keep charging federal drilling application fees through 2037 and direct all of those dollars to BLM’s permit‑processing fund so the agency can keep handling oil‑and‑gas permits without interruption.

What It Does

H.R. 7831 (the “License to Drill Act”) extends an existing Bureau of Land Management (BLM) fee on each new Application for Permit to Drill (APD) from its current sunset in 2026 to 2037. It also requires that, for fiscal years 2027–2037, all APD fees be deposited into the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund rather than split with other accounts. In short: it keeps the fee going and dedicates the money to the office that processes drilling permits.

Short title

License to Drill Act

Statute amended

Mineral Leasing Act §35(d) (30 U.S.C. 191(d))

New sunset year for APD fee

2037

Where the money goes (FY2027–FY2037)

100% to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund

Who’s For It

• Sponsor: Rep. Mike Kennedy (R‑UT).
• Typical supporters of similar measures include House Republicans from energy‑producing states and oil‑and‑gas trade groups, who argue that stable, dedicated fee funding helps BLM plan staffing and reduce permitting backlogs.
• Some state and local officials in drilling regions may favor predictable federal processing because it reduces uncertainty for projects and related jobs.

Who’s Against It

• Environmental and climate advocates often oppose policies they believe could speed federal oil‑and‑gas permitting, warning it can lock in more drilling and associated emissions.
• Some fiscal conservatives object to extending or earmarking fees and special funds, arguing it limits annual congressional oversight and may encourage agency growth.

What’s Next

Status as of March 20, 2026: Introduced March 5, 2026; referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources the same day; and sent to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources on March 18, 2026. Next typical steps would be a subcommittee hearing/markup, then full committee consideration, a House floor vote, and, if it passes, consideration in the Senate.