Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act

Bill Number

H.R. 3657

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Energy

Status

Passed House

Latest Action

2026-06-10: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Last Updated

2026-07-11T00:43:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act (H.R. 3657) aims to increase transparency in the federal hydropower licensing process by requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)—the agency that oversees licenses for hydroelectric power projects—to provide Congress with annual reports on the status of certain pending license applications. This helps track delays and progress in relicensing, which can be a lengthy process affecting energy production.

Key Provisions

• Annual Reporting Requirement: FERC must submit a report to Congress no later than 180 days after the law's enactment, and every year afterward.
• Scope of Reports:
• Covers the licensing process for "new licenses" or "subsequent licenses" (renewals under Section 15 of the Federal Power Act, where certain procedural steps have been waived) if the current license holder notified FERC at least three years earlier of their intent to apply, but the license has not yet been issued.
• Also includes "original licenses" (first-time approvals under Section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act) if a citizen, group, company, state, Indian Tribe, or local government notified FERC at least three years earlier of their intent to apply, but the license is still pending.
• Required Details in Reports (for each covered application):
• Date of the initial notice of intent.
• Any assigned case number (docket number).
• Whether an application has been submitted.
• Current status, including FERC's estimated date for issuing the license.
• Dates of any upcoming hearings, meetings, or proceedings.
• Summary of actions required or completed by the license applicant, FERC, fish and wildlife agencies (like those involved in environmental reviews), and other relevant parties.
• Organization of Information: Reports must separate details by license type (e.g., new/subsequent vs. original) for clarity.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends the Federal Power Act (the main U.S. law governing electric power regulation) by adding a new Section 37, which mandates these annual reports— a requirement that did not previously exist.
• No changes to the core licensing timelines or criteria; it only adds oversight through reporting to address potential bottlenecks without altering application rules.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: FERC will face an increased administrative burden to compile and submit detailed reports, potentially improving internal tracking of cases. Congress gains better tools for oversight, which could lead to more informed decisions on energy policy or funding for hydropower infrastructure.
• On Citizens and Stakeholders: Enhances public and applicant awareness of licensing progress, reducing uncertainty for those involved in hydropower projects. This could indirectly speed up approvals by highlighting delays, benefiting renewable energy development.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the law focuses on domestic U.S. hydropower licensing.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): Primary entity responsible for preparing and submitting reports.
• Congress: Receives reports for oversight of energy regulation.
• Hydropower License Applicants and Holders: Includes existing project owners (seeking renewals), as well as citizens, associations, corporations, states, Indian Tribes, and municipalities applying for new or original licenses.
• Environmental and Resource Agencies: Fish and wildlife agencies (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) involved in reviews, as their actions will be documented.
• Broader Public: Communities near hydropower sites, environmental groups, and energy consumers who may benefit from more predictable renewable energy licensing.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens accountability under the Federal Power Act without expanding FERC's authority or creating new enforcement mechanisms; reports are informational only, not binding.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's oversight powers over executive agencies (Article I), promoting transparency in administrative processes without infringing on separation of powers.
• Political: Could encourage bipartisan support for streamlining renewable energy approvals, addressing criticisms of slow relicensing (which averages 5–8 years). May influence future legislation on energy infrastructure by providing data on delays, potentially reducing political friction over environmental vs. energy development trade-offs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-10: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
• 2025-07-15: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
• 2025-07-14: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
• 2025-07-14: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3221-3222)
• 2025-07-14: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
• 2025-07-14: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3657.
• 2025-07-14: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3221-3223)
• 2025-07-14: Mr. Latta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• 2025-07-10: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 157.
• 2025-07-10: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-193.
• 2025-07-10: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-193.
• 2025-06-25: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 47 - 0.
• 2025-06-25: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-06-05: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
• 2025-06-05: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Bill Versions

• Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act — issued 2025-07-14 — PDF (6 pages)
• Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act — issued 2025-05-29 — PDF (3 pages)
• Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act — issued 2025-07-15 — PDF (4 pages)
• Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (6 pages)