Legis Daily

Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

USA119th CongressS-544| Senate 
| Updated: 2/11/2026
Catherine Cortez Masto

Catherine Cortez Masto

Democratic Senator

Nevada

Cosponsors (4)
James E. Risch (Republican)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Mike Crapo (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act aims to clarify and expand the ability of hardrock mining operators to locate and utilize mill sites on public lands. It amends existing law to permit the proprietor of a lode or placer claim to locate and include within an approved plan of operations as many mill site claims as are reasonably necessary for their mining operations. Each individual mill site location is limited to a maximum of 5 acres . These new provisions clarify that such mill sites do not convey mineral rights to the locator and are explicitly not eligible for patenting . The bill also specifies that a mill site can be located on a tract of public land where the claimant already maintains a lode or placer claim, and its location does not affect the validity of existing mining claims. Importantly, the legislation includes savings provisions to ensure it does not diminish existing rights, create new rights on land closed to mining, or limit the federal government's authority to regulate mining activities. Furthermore, the bill establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund in the U.S. Treasury. This fund will receive deposits from claim maintenance fees collected on the newly authorized mill sites. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to use these funds, without further appropriations, specifically for carrying out abandoned mine land reclamation projects as outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1281
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2023
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 12, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 12, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.
Mar 12, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
Apr 9, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Feb 11, 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-105.
Feb 11, 2026
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 334.
Mar 17, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1366
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 357.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1281
    Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2023


  • February 12, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 12, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • March 12, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.


  • March 12, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.


  • April 9, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • February 11, 2026
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-105.


  • February 11, 2026
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 334.


  • March 17, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1366
    Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 357.

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1366: Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
  • HR 119-4754: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
Government trust fundsLand use and conservationMining

Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

USA119th CongressS-544| Senate 
| Updated: 2/11/2026
The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act aims to clarify and expand the ability of hardrock mining operators to locate and utilize mill sites on public lands. It amends existing law to permit the proprietor of a lode or placer claim to locate and include within an approved plan of operations as many mill site claims as are reasonably necessary for their mining operations. Each individual mill site location is limited to a maximum of 5 acres . These new provisions clarify that such mill sites do not convey mineral rights to the locator and are explicitly not eligible for patenting . The bill also specifies that a mill site can be located on a tract of public land where the claimant already maintains a lode or placer claim, and its location does not affect the validity of existing mining claims. Importantly, the legislation includes savings provisions to ensure it does not diminish existing rights, create new rights on land closed to mining, or limit the federal government's authority to regulate mining activities. Furthermore, the bill establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund in the U.S. Treasury. This fund will receive deposits from claim maintenance fees collected on the newly authorized mill sites. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to use these funds, without further appropriations, specifically for carrying out abandoned mine land reclamation projects as outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1281
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2023
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 12, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 12, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.
Mar 12, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
Apr 9, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Feb 11, 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-105.
Feb 11, 2026
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 334.
Mar 17, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1366
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 357.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1281
    Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2023


  • February 12, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 12, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • March 12, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.


  • March 12, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.


  • April 9, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • February 11, 2026
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-105.


  • February 11, 2026
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 334.


  • March 17, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1366
    Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 357.
Catherine Cortez Masto

Catherine Cortez Masto

Democratic Senator

Nevada

Cosponsors (4)
James E. Risch (Republican)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Mike Crapo (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1366: Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
  • HR 119-4754: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Government trust fundsLand use and conservationMining