Geothermal Energy Advancement Act
Introduced Sep 30, 2025 by Rep. Jeff Hurd
The House passed it. The Senate has to pass it before it can reach the President.
This bill establishes a geothermal ombudsman and task force to oversee geothermal project permitting and authorizations on federal land.
The Department of the Interior must appoint a geothermal ombudsman from within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The ombudsman must act as a liaison among different parts of BLM, provide dispute resolution services between BLM and geothermal project applicants, and facilitate permit processing in different BLM field offices regarding geothermal projects on federal land.
The ombudsman must also lead the Geothermal Permitting Task Force established by this bill. The task force must support the ombudsman’s duties. Through the task force, the ombudsman may reassign employees from other Interior bureaus or offices to assist in the completion of geothermal authorizations. The ombudsman may pay a retention allowance to reassigned employees.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service.
No recorded roll-call vote on this bill — it may have passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record individual votes.
- Sep 17, 2026Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 663.
- Sep 17, 2026Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
- Jul 29, 2026Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Jul 15, 2026Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
- Jun 3, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Jun 2, 2026The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Jun 2, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H3760-3761)
- Jun 2, 2026On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- Jun 2, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- Jun 2, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5631.
- Jun 2, 2026Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3760-3765)
- Jun 2, 2026Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- May 20, 2026Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 574.
- May 20, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-660.
- Mar 5, 2026Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- Mar 5, 2026Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Mar 5, 2026Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
- Dec 16, 2025Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Dec 9, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
- Sep 30, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Sep 30, 2025Introduced in House