Mining Regulatory Clarity Act (H.R. 1366)
IntroducedLatest Action
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 357.
3/17/2026 • Senate
Summary
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining, such as waste disposal, regardless of whether those lands contain mineral deposits valuable enough to be mined (mineral validity). It also establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund.
The bill addresses a 2022 decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit related to the Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona (commonly known as the Rosemont decision, described further in CRS Report R48166). The court held that mining claims are only allowed where mineral validity has been established and that mill site claims are more appropriate means for establishing a mining waste disposal site under the Mining Act.
The bill allows a mining operator to (1) locate and include within its plan of operations as many mill site claims (e.g., areas for waste rock disposal) as are reasonably necessary for its operations, and (2) use or occupy public land in accordance with an approved plan of operations.
Additionally, the bill requires any revenue generated from fees for such mill site claims to be deposited into the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. The Department of the Interior must use the fund for certain abandoned hardrock mine reclamation activities.
Reported to House • 11/25/2025
Topics & Subjects
Amendments (1)
This bill has 1 amendment proposed or adopted.
View all amendments on Congress.govCongressional Votes (2)
On Passage
December 18, 2025
On Motion to Recommit
December 18, 2025
Related Federal Spending
Sponsor & Cosponsors (3)
Party Breakdown
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Bill Journey
Originated in the House
Introduced
February 14, 2025
Committee Review
September 3, 2025
Floor Debate
December 18, 2025
Passed Chamber
December 18, 2025
Other Chamber
December 18, 2025
President
Failed
December 18, 2025
Text Versions (4)
Committee Reports (1)
Related Bills (3)
S. 544
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
H.R. 4754
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
H.Res. 951
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4776) to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambiguous provisions and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1366) to provide for the location of multiple hardrock mining mill sites, to establish the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 845) to require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue regulations removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3616) to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to review regulations that may affect the reliable operation of the bulk-power system; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3632) to amend the Federal Power Act to adjust the requirements for orders, rules, and regulations relating to furnishing adequate service, to require owners or operators of generating facilities to provide notice of planned retirements of certain electric generating units, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4371) to amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to enhance efforts to combat the trafficking of children.
Details
Sources and method
· Congress.gov, CRS, House Clerk, USAspending, FEC, LDA · Record updated Jul 23, 2026
- Congress.govLibrary of CongressStatus, actions, sponsors, cosponsors, committees and textRecord updated Jul 23, 2026 · Loaded Oct 30, 2026, 9:49 PM ET
- CRS bill summaryCongressional Research Service, via Congress.govOfficial summarySummary of the “Reported to House” version, Nov 25, 2025 · Loaded Oct 30, 2026, 9:49 PM ET
- House roll-call votesOffice of the Clerk, U.S. House of RepresentativesRoll-call results on this billLatest roll call Dec 18, 2025 · Loaded Oct 30, 2026, 9:49 PM ET
- USAspending.govU.S. Department of the TreasuryRelated Federal Spending section
- FEC filingsFederal Election CommissionFunding & Lobbying section
- Lobbying disclosures (LDA)Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the HouseFunding & Lobbying section
All sources: Public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105) · Method: Data sources → · Campaign finance →
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Dates shown where the source reports one. “Loaded” is when CIV.IQ last fetched the record.