HR 5631 119th Congress House Energy Advisory bodies Congressional oversight Department of the Interior Earth sciences Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Licensing and registrations

Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews Act

Introduced: May 20, 2026 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

May 20, 2026

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 574.

May 20, 2026

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-660.

Mar 5, 2026

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

Mar 5, 2026

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Mar 5, 2026

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged

Dec 16, 2025

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Dec 9, 2025

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Sep 30, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Sep 30, 2025

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews Act

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.

What's happening now May 20, 2026

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 574.

Committees of jurisdiction 2