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.

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Documents

5 official files

• Referred in Senate

  Referred in Senate · EN · 16 December 2025

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• Engrossed in House

  Engrossed in House · EN · 15 December 2025

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• Reported in House

  Reported in House · EN · 31 October 2025

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• Reported to House

  summary · EN · 31 October 2025

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• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 10 June 2025

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