HR 7831 · Passed House · 06-03-26
License to Drill Act
What does the License to Drill Act do?
HR 7831 is a House bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-UT). Federal law requires the Bureau of Land Management to charge a fee on every new application to drill for oil and gas on federal land, with the money going into a fund used to speed up permit processing. That fee requirement was set to wind down in 2026. This bill extends it through 2037 and directs that all of the fees collected each year from 2027 through 2037 go into the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund.
Did HR 7831 pass? Where it stands
As of July 17, 2026, HR 7831 has passed the House.
Status: Passed House
Latest vote: House Passed by voice vote on June 2, 2026
Outlook: Possible
Key provisions
- What the Drilling Permit Fee Does
- BLM charges a fee on each new application for a permit to drill on federal land
- Fees feed the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund, used to process permits
- What This Bill Changes
- Extends the fee-collection requirement from 2026 to 2037
- Directs all fees collected for fiscal years 2027-2037 to the Improvement Fund
Last updated June 10, 2026