HR 3872

To amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act applicable to hardrock minerals.

Summary

This bill specifies that all federally acquired lands are eligible to be considered for hardrock mineral leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (MLAAL). The bill defines the term  hardrock mineral to (1) include deposits of minerals found in sedimentary or other rocks, base metals, precious metals, industrial minerals, and precious and semi-precious gemstones; and (2) exclude deposits of coal, oil, oil shale, gas, sodium, potassium, sulfur, or mineral materials subject to disposition under the Materials Act of 1947. By way of background, hardrock minerals are not currently listed under the MLAAL as deposits subject to a lease, while mineral resources such as coal, phosphate, oil, gas, gilsonite, and sulfur are listed. As a result, federal lands may be leased for mining hardrock minerals only if the federal lands were acquired under a statute, such as the Weeks Act, that specifically authorizes the land to be used for hardrock mineral leasing.

Bill status

Status: Passed House
Sponsor: Rep. Pat Fallon [R-TX-4]
Cosponsors: 2
Policy area: Energy
Introduced: 2025-06-10
Latest action: 2026-06-10: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Committee referrals

Recent actions

2026-06-10: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
2026-02-12: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
2025-12-16: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
2025-12-15: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-12-15: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)