Under current law, only part of each year's fees goes to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund. Under the bill, all fees collected in fiscal years 2027 through 2037 would go there. Permit processing speed can affect when drilling projects move forward for people who work in or live near oil and gas areas on public land.

Drilling permit fee on federal land would run through 2037, not end after 2026

Q: What does it cost, and who pays?

Oil and gas companies would continue paying the existing fee on each new drilling permit application through 2037. All of the fees collected in fiscal years 2027 through 2037 would go to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund.

Placed on the calendarS. 5039Latest action Sep 17, 2026

Sponsor: Mike Lee · Senator · UT

AIDecoded by AI · checked against the record

Read the official text

Official title: License to Drill Act

119th Congress

Topics: Environment & energy

Introduced: July 21, 2026

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

In plain words

The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.

The bill extends the BLM drilling permit application fee to 2037 and sends all fees from 2027 through 2037 to a permit processing fund.

55-second read · 5 questions answered below

What does this do?

The bill extends a fee that oil and gas companies pay on each new drilling permit application on federal land. The requirement now ends after 2026, and the bill moves the end date to 2037, eleven more years. It does not set a new fee amount.

Who does it affect?

Oil and gas companies applying for drilling permits on federal land would keep paying the fee through 2037. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would keep a steady source of money for permit processing.

Why does it matter?

Under current law, only part of each year's fees goes to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund. Under the bill, all fees collected in 2027 through 2037 would go there. Permit processing speed can affect when drilling projects move forward for people who work in or live near oil and gas areas on public land.

What does it cost, and who pays?

Existing fee kept, no new amount
Paid by oil and gas applicants
All fees go to BLM fund, FY2027-2037

AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.

Based on the “Reported to Senate” text of Sep 17, 2026.

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

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IntroducedJul 21, 2026
Senate committee
Senate voteYou are here · Sep 17, 2026
House
The president's desk

Right now: it was placed on the , and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.

Latest action: September 17, 2026 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 659.

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