Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act

Catherine Cortez Masto

Democrat · NV · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Steve Daines (R-MT)Original· 2025-12-16

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

2026-06-10

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would require the federal government to be more transparent and open about how it approves licenses for hydropower dams and water projects, likely by making documents and decision-making processes easier for the public to access and understand. The changes would affect energy companies building dams, environmental groups monitoring water projects, and communities that depend on rivers and hydropower for electricity and water resources.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 3500 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3500 To amend the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to annually submit to Congress a report on the status of ongoing hydropower relicensing applications. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 16, 2025 Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Daines) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to annually submit to Congress a report on the status of ongoing hydropower relicensing applications. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act''. SEC. 2. ANNUAL LICENSING STATUS REPORT. Part I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 792 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 37. ANNUAL LICENSING STATUS REPORT. ``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the status of-- ``(1) the licensing process for each new license, and for each subsequent license for which sections 14 and 15 have been waived, for which the existing licensee has notified the Commission under section 15(b)(1) at least 3 years prior to submission of the report that the existing licensee intends to file an application for the new license or subsequent license, but the new license or subsequent license has not yet been issued under section 15; and ``(2) the licensing process for each original license under section 4(e) for which a citizen, association, corporation, State, Indian Tribe, or municipality has notified the Commission, pursuant to applicable regulations, at least 3 years prior to submission of the report that the citizen, association, corporation, State, Indian Tribe, or municipality intends to file an application for the original license, but the original license has not yet been issued under section 4(e). ``(b) Inclusions.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the licensing process for each new license and subsequent license described in that subsection and the licensing process for each original license described in that subsection-- ``(1) the date the notice of intent described in that subsection was provided to the Commission; ``(2) any docket number assigned with respect to the licensing process; ``(3) whether any application for the new license, subsequent license, or original license, as applicable, has been filed; ``(4) information regarding the status of the application, including the date the Commission anticipates the Commission will issue the original license, subsequent license, or new license, as applicable; ``(5) the date of any upcoming proceeding or other meeting relating to the original license, subsequent license, or new license, as applicable; and ``(6) a description of any ongoing or completed actions required of the existing licensee, citizen, association, corporation, State, Indian Tribe, municipality, Commission, any fish and wildlife agency referred to in section 15(b)(3), and any other applicable agency. ``(c) Disaggregation of Information by License Type.--The information included in each report submitted under subsection (a) shall be disaggregated by whether the information relates to a new license, or a subsequent license, issued under section 15 or an original license issued under section 4(e).''. <all>

• S3693Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-10
• S3041Tribal Warrant Fairness Act
  Passed Senate · 2026-06-10
• S4701A bill to protect freedom of travel and reproductive rights.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-08
• S4532Small Business Wildfire Smoke Recovery Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-14