HEATS Act

Key Points

This bill, introduced by Mrs. Kim, aims to speed up the development of geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is a clean power source that uses heat from deep underground to generate electricity.
The policy would stop the federal government from requiring a drilling permit for projects on private land, as long as the government owns less than half of the underground resources. Instead, companies would only need to get a permit from the state government.
To make things move faster, these projects would no longer have to go through long federal environmental reviews or follow certain federal endangered species rules. Once a company turns in its state permit to the federal government, it can start drilling in just 30 days.
Even though the federal government would step back from the permitting process, it would still collect 'royalties,' which is a share of the money made from the energy produced. Federal officials would also keep the right to inspect these sites to make sure the energy production is being tracked correctly.
This new rule would not apply to any projects on Indian lands. Those projects would still have to follow all current federal laws and protections to ensure tribal resources are respected.

Impact Analysis

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Milestones

7 milestones22 actions

Apr 28, 2026Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Apr 23, 2026House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Apr 23, 2026House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 231 - 186 (Roll no. 137).

Apr 23, 2026

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 231 - 186 (Roll no. 137).

The House of Representatives voted to approve this bill. It now goes to the Senate.

Apr 23, 2026House

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

Vote Results

1 vote

HousePassedPassageApr 23, 2026

On Passage

231

186

Democrat

22 – 186 · 4

Republican

208 – 0 · 8

Independent

1 – 0

View full roll call

News

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Related Bills

1 bill

H.Res. 1189Procedurally related

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4690) to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to repeal certain Federal building energy efficiency performance standards, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1182) expressing support for rural communities across the United States as stewards of the environment, major suppliers of United States energy resources, critical providers of food production and manufacturing capacity, and drivers of national economic stability, and recognizing the work of the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress in support of those vital communities; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1897) to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to optimize conservation through resource prioritization, incentivize wildlife conservation on private lands, provide for greater incentives to recover listed species, create greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species, streamline the permitting process, eliminate barriers to conservation, and restore congressional intent; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5587) to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive the requirement for a Federal drilling permit for certain activities, to exempt certain activities from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.

Apr 22 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

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