What does Preamble of HR 398 do?

This bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. The purpose of the amendment is to provide cost-recovery authority for the Department of the Interior.

What does SHORT TITLE. of HR 398 do?

This bill is formally titled the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025.

What does COST RECOVERY FROM GEOTHERMAL LEASING, PERMITTING, AND of HR 398 do?

This section amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow the Secretary to require reimbursement for costs associated with geothermal leasing. The cost recovery period begins on the date of enactment and ends September 30, 2032. Reimbursable costs include processing applications for geothermal leases and permits, and inspecting and monitoring related activities. The Secretary must consider cooperative cost share agreements when deciding whether to require reimbursement. The Secretary may reduce reimbursement amounts if full reimbursement would cause economic hardship or hinder geothermal resource development. Reimbursed funds are credited to the Department of the Interior’s appropriation and can only be used for related processing and inspection activities.

What does REPORT. of HR 398 do?

This section mandates a report from the Secretary of the Interior regarding the impact of amendments made by section 2 of this Act on the Bureau of Land Management's geothermal program. The report must include recommendations for reauthorization of section 6(j) of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, as added by this Act. The Secretary must also include any other recommendations for updates to section 6(j) and the Bureau of Land Management's geothermal program. The report is due within 5 years of the Act's enactment and must be submitted to the House and Senate committees and made publicly available. The Secretary is required to solicit facts and information from the geothermal industry and other stakeholders when developing the report.

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Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025 — HR. 398

Last updated: 3/5/2026 · Introduced: 1/14/2025

Author: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow the Department of the Interior to require reimbursement for costs related to geothermal leasing, permitting, and inspection activities.
The Department of the Interior must submit a report within five years of enactment assessing the impact of these changes on the Bureau of Land Management's geothermal program and recommend updates to related regulations.
Reimbursed funds will be used to cover processing and inspection costs associated with geothermal activities, with consideration given to potential economic hardship or development hindrance.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 2 more.

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