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S. 3500119th CongressIn markupLatest action Jun 10, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
S 3500 requires FERC to send Congress annual reports on hydropower dam licenses pending at least three years without a decision.
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S 3500 requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to submit a yearly report to Congress on hydropower dam license applications that have been in process for at least three years without a final decision. Each report must include when the process started, current status, expected decision date, upcoming hearings or meetings, and actions already taken by dam operators, government agencies, and other parties. The bill does not change how licenses are approved or how long the process takes.
Companies, local governments, tribes, and individuals who own or seek to build hydropower facilities and are awaiting FERC license decisions are most directly affected. Communities near dams and electricity consumers who rely on hydropower are indirectly affected.
Obtaining or renewing a hydropower license can take many years, and the reporting requirement is intended to give Congress visibility into where individual cases stand. The requirement would allow Congress and the public to identify cases that may be taking longer than expected, though the bill makes no changes to the underlying approval process.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.