USGS will map where sinkholes might happen and share the maps free.

What it does

The bill tells the U.S. Geological Survey to study what causes sinkholes. It must make maps showing which areas are at high risk. The maps will be updated every five years. The maps will be posted on a public website for anyone to see.

Who it affects

People and local governments can use the maps to make better decisions. City planners and emergency managers can plan for sinkhole dangers.

One thing to notice

The maps may change property values and insurance costs in high-risk areas. Cities that get the maps may face more legal risk if they do not act on sinkhole danger.

From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.

Where it stands

8 cosponsors: 6 Democrats, 2 Republicans.

• Jan 31, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jan 31, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources”
• Apr 9, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Apr 9, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent”
• Jul 14, 2025 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3223)”
• Jul 14, 2025 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended”
• Sep 16, 2026 — Hearing held · Congress.gov: “Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

3 groups reported lobbying about this bill. They filed 6 reports from Dec 2025 to Jun 2026.

Those reports show $676,000 in lobbying spending. Each report lists about 4 bills. So that money was not all for this bill.

More groups named this bill than 61% of bills with any report.

Darren Soto, who sponsored the bill, received $1,455,553 from PACs for the 2026 election.

• Hartford Insurance Group (fka Hartford Financial Services Group) — $640,000 in 2 reports
• National Society of Professional Surveyors — $36,000 in 2 reports
• Council on Federal Procurement of Architectural Engineering Svc — $0 in 2 reports

Lobbying is legal. These reports show who lobbied about this bill, not what changed.

Words to know

• U.S. Geological Survey — A government agency that studies rocks, water, and natural dangers.
• sinkholes — Holes that form in the ground when rock or soil below collapses.
• emergency managers — People who plan and respond when disasters or dangers happen.
• lobbying — Trying to influence lawmakers about a bill. Companies and groups pay people to do this.
• PACs — Groups that collect money and give it to candidates for office.
• sponsored — To sponsor a bill is to introduce it in Congress and put your name on it.