WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 7831 · 119th Congress · Public Law 119-134

License to Drill Act

Became lawEnergy
IntroducedMar 5, 2026
Passed HouseJun 2, 2026
Passed SenateSep 30, 2026
To PresidentOct 15, 2026
Became lawOct 20, 2026

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 7831 changed 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text in its final form, as sent to the President.

30 U.S.C. 191 Disposition of moneys received

  • (d) BLM oil and gas permit processing fee changed · Sec. 2(1), Sec. 2(2), Sec. 2(3) · see the words
What the words changed: every change, in place (4)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what was struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 30 U.S.C. 191(d)(1)changedby H.R. 7831 Sec. 2(1)

    (1) In general. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for each of fiscal years 2016 through 20262037, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall collect a fee for each new application for a permit to drill that is submitted to the Secretary.

    The bill says: in paragraph (1), by striking "2026" and inserting "2037";

    Bill text · Current law (30 U.S.C. 191)

  2. 30 U.S.C. 191(d)(3)changedby H.R. 7831 Sec. 2(2)

    (3) Use. Of the fees collected under this subsection for a fiscal year, theThe Secretary shall transfer— (A) for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019— (i) 15 percent to the field offices that collected the fees and used to process protests, leases, and permits under this chapter, subject to appropriation; and (ii) 85 percent to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund established under subsection (c)(2)(B) (referred to in this subsection as the "Fund"); and (B) for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2026, all of the fees to the Fund.

    The bill says: by striking "Of the fees collected under this subsection for a fiscal year, the" and inserting "The"; and

    Bill text · Current law (30 U.S.C. 191)

  3. 30 U.S.C. 191(d)(3)changedby H.R. 7831 Sec. 2(2)

    (3) Use. Of the fees collected under this subsection for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall transfer—transfer, for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2037, all of the fees collected under this subsection for each such fiscal year to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund (A) for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019— (i) 15 percent to the field offices that collected the fees and used to process protests, leases, and permits under this chapter, subject to appropriation; and (ii) 85 percent to the BLM…

    The bill says: by striking "transfer—" and all that follows through "the Fund" and inserting "transfer, for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2037, all of the fees collected under this subsection for each such fiscal year to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund"; and

    Bill text · Current law (30 U.S.C. 191)

  4. 30 U.S.C. 191(d)(4)changedby H.R. 7831 Sec. 2(3)

    (4) Additional costs. During each of fiscal years of 2016 through 20262037, the Secretary shall not implement a rulemaking that would enable an increase in fees to recover additional costs related to processing applications for permits to drill.

    The bill says: in paragraph (4), by striking "2026" and inserting "2037".

    Bill text · Current law (30 U.S.C. 191)

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

License to Drill Act

This act extends through FY2037 the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) authority to collect oil and gas permit processing fees. For each new permit application, BLM collects a fee that is transferred to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund. (Under current law, the fees are authorized through FY2026.)

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Oct 20, 2026).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. 2026-10-20Became Public Law No: 119-134.Library of Congress
  2. 2026-10-20Became Public Law No: 119-134.Library of Congress
  3. 2026-10-20Signed by President.Library of Congress
  4. 2026-10-20Signed by President.Library of Congress
  5. 2026-10-15Presented to President.House floor actions
  6. 2026-10-15Presented to President.Library of Congress
  7. 2026-10-14Message on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
  8. 2026-09-30Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5226-5231)Senate
  9. 2026-09-30Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  10. 2026-09-17Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 665.Senate
  11. 2026-09-17Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.Senate
  12. 2026-09-17Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.Library of Congress
  13. 2026-07-29Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.Senate
  14. 2026-07-15Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.Senate
  15. 2026-06-03Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.Senate
  16. 2026-06-02Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
  17. 2026-06-02On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3757)House floor actions
  18. 2026-06-02Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3757)Library of Congress
  19. 2026-06-02DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7831.House floor actions
  20. 2026-06-02Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3757-3578)House floor actions
  21. 2026-06-02Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.House floor actions
  22. 2026-05-20Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 579.House floor actions
  23. 2026-05-20Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-665.House floor actions
  24. 2026-05-20Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-665.Library of Congress
  25. 2026-05-14Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.House committee actions
  26. 2026-05-14Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldHouse committee actions
  27. 2026-05-14Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources DischargedHouse committee actions
  28. 2026-03-25Subcommittee Hearings HeldHouse committee actions
  29. 2026-03-18Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.House committee actions
  30. 2026-03-05Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.House floor actions
  31. 2026-03-05Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
  32. 2026-03-05Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

After it became law

Sourced

Nothing in the Federal Register names Public Law 119-134 yet (checked Oct 27, 2026). Many laws need no new rules: they set penalties, name a building, or fund something directly.

Cosponsors

  • Stephanie I. Bice R-OK-5
  • Harriet M. Hageman R-WY-At Large
  • Celeste Maloy R-UT-2