Bills · HR 280
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 280Licensing and registrationsEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, research
COAL Act of 2025
INTRO JAN 9· LAST ACTION SEP 3
READING
2MIN
COSPONSORS
4
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it represents a policy shift towards promoting coal extraction on federal lands. If it becomes law, it would likely lead to an increase in coal production by accelerating approvals for existing projects and reopening avenues for new leases. For voters concerned about climate change and environmental protection, this could be a significant setback, as it encourages the use of fossil fuels.
Conversely, for voters who prioritize domestic energy production, job creation in the coal industry, or the economic stability of coal-dependent regions, this bill could be seen as a positive step. If the bill doesn't pass, the current regulatory environment for federal coal leases would remain, including the moratorium on new leases from Secretarial Order 3338, meaning a slower or more restrictive path for new coal mining projects on federal land.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to promptly approve specific pending applications for coal leases on federal land, known as 'qualified applications'.
This provision aims to reduce delays and speed up the start of coal mining projects that are already in the federal review pipeline.
PROVISION 02
Mandates the Secretary of the Interior to quickly grant any additional necessary approvals for mining to commence on federal coal leases that have already been awarded.
This removes potential bureaucratic roadblocks for coal companies to begin operations on federal lands where they already hold a lease.
PROVISION 03
Eliminates Secretarial Order 3338, an order from 2016 that had paused new federal coal leasing.
This action reopens federal lands for the possibility of issuing entirely new coal leases, beyond just processing existing applications.
PROVISION 04
Defines a 'qualified application' as any pending coal lease application under the Bureau of Land Management's program for which an environmental review has already started.
This clarifies which specific types of applications are subject to the bill's mandatory and expedited approval requirements.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 4
R· Wyoming
YRS IN OFFICE
3
BILLS LED
57
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 4 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
4 EVENTSSEP 3
Subcommittee Hearings Held
JUL 2
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
JAN 9
Introduced in House
JAN 9
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 280
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 9, 2025
Last actionSep 3, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 9, 2025
House BillHR 280Licensing and registrationsEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, research
COAL Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JAN 9, 2025· LAST ACTION SEP 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
2 min
COSPONSORS
4
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
