S. 5039, the License to Drill Act, advanced out of committee on July 29, 2026.
S. 5039 — License to Drill Act
What it does
This bill extends a temporary oil and gas permit fee collection program by 11 years, from 2026 to 2037. The Interior Department will continue collecting fees from companies applying for new drilling permits on federal land, and those fees will be deposited into a dedicated fund to pay for permit processing. The bill does not change the fee amount or who pays it — only how long the program runs.
Quorum's transparency scan gave License to Drill Act a moderate transparency flag.
What happens next
S. 5039 advanced out of committee. Next stop: a floor vote.
Who is behind it
Filed by Mike Lee.
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