A bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to provide for the payment of bonus payments of certain coal leases issued under that Act.
- Bill Number
- S. 4410
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S2083)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-21T16:55:45Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to allow deferred bonus payments for certain coal leases issued on federal lands, spreading payments over time instead of requiring full upfront payment.
Key Provisions
- Adds a new subsection (6) to Section 2(a) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 201(a)).
- For coal leases issued under a deferred bonus payment system:
- Bonus payments must be made in 10 equal annual installments.
- The first installment is due with the lease bid.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces an option for deferred payments specifically for coal leases, which were previously subject to standard bonus payment terms (typically upfront or as specified without this installment structure).
- Applies only to leases issued under this new deferred system, providing flexibility not explicitly outlined before.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Department of the Interior (e.g., Bureau of Land Management) would receive lease bonus revenue over 10 years rather than immediately, potentially affecting budgeting and cash flow for federal mineral leasing programs.
- Citizens and industry: Could lower upfront costs for coal companies, encouraging more bids and leasing activity, which might increase domestic coal production and energy supply.
- No direct international relations impact noted.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Coal mining companies: Benefit from easier access to leases via installment payments.
- Federal government: Manages lease issuance and collects deferred revenue.
- Local communities near federal lands: May see economic effects from increased coal development (jobs, royalties).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Modifies federal mineral leasing authority under existing statute; no apparent constitutional challenges as it pertains to congressional power over public lands.
- Political: Sponsored by senators from coal-producing states (Wyoming), potentially advancing pro-energy development policies without broader regulatory changes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S2083)
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to provide for the payment of bonus payments of certain coal leases issued under that Act. — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (2 pages)