S. 5039 · On the floor · Energy

License to Drill Act

Sponsor: Mike Lee (R-UT)

What it does

• Extends the Bureau of Land Management's authority to collect oil and gas permit processing fees through fiscal year 2037, 11 years beyond the current expiration date of FY2026.
• Directs BLM to transfer collected permit fees into the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund for dedicated use in oil and gas permitting operations.
• Maintains the fee structure whereby BLM charges applicants for each new oil and gas permit application submitted on federal lands.

Official summary

License to Drill Act This bill 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.)

Latest action

Sep 17, 2026: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 659.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources