The record

LegislationLegislation· Sep 2026
HR 3872 Passed House — in Senate

Sponsored by Pat Fallon (R)

To amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act applicable to hardrock minerals.

Allows hardrock mineral mining leases on all federally acquired lands, not just certain parcels.

Tradeoff

Expands where companies can lease federal land to mine metals and gemstones. Does not change royalties or environmental reviews.

What's in it

See official bill text

Reduces deficit by $125 million over 2026-2036 through mineral lease royalties; requires $15 million in BLM spending over 2026-2031.

The $15 million federal cost is the BLM's administrative and permitting expense to manage additional mineral leases; the policy's primary economic impact falls on mining companies, which must pay the government $125 million in royalties and rent over the decade.

H.R. 3872, an act to amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that act applicable to hardrock minerals · Sep 2026

Passed the House by on December 15, 2025 — sitting in the Senate.

  1. House

    Introduced

    (Jun 10, 2025)

  2. House

    Committee on Natural Resources(Jun 10, 2025)

  3. House

    The Committee on Natural Resources voted to send it to the floor

    Reported(Sep 17, 2025)

    Committee report H. Rept. 119-357.

  4. House

    Passage of the bill

    Passed by (Dec 15, 2025)

    No individual votes were recorded.

  5. Senate

    Received from the House

    on Energy and Natural Resources(Dec 16, 2025)

  6. Senate

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted to send it to the floor

    Reported(Jun 10, 2026)