Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

What this measure contains

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.

The latest Congressional Research Service summary in the bill's GovInfo status record, or its official title when no summary has been published. Amendments can change the wording; read a specific version for its complete provisions.

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Bill text and versions

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• Placed on Calendar Senate · Official document ↗· Mar 17, 2026
• Engrossed in House · Official document ↗· Dec 18, 2025
• Reported in House · Official document ↗· Nov 25, 2025
• Introduced in House · Official document ↗· Feb 14, 2025

Legislative path

Each stage below is a House or Senate floor decision: every recorded roll call on this measure, plus passage by voice vote or unanimous consent, which records no individual votes. Each stage shows the latest version published before that day; the chamber may have voted on an amended text. Roll calls name every member. A member's row follows their votes, and a highlighted vote marks where they voted for advancing the measure at one stage and against it at another (passage, cloture, motions to proceed, agreeing to the other chamber's version). Amendments and motions such as recommit or table don't count as a change, because an aye there isn't a vote for the measure.

1. Introduced in House
2. Reported in House
3. Engrossed in Houseby House passage
4. Placed on Calendar Senate

Decision stages

1. Dec 18, 2025 · House

   House motion to recommit on Reported in House: Failed

   205 aye · 213 no · 15 not voting · Source roll call

2. Dec 18, 2025 · House

   House passage on Reported in House: Passed, reported as Engrossed in House

   219 aye · 198 no · 16 not voting · Source roll call

House members along the path

Aye yea or aye · No nay or no · Present · NV not voting · Changed reversed on advancing the measure

Members are identified by the Bioguide ID in each roll call, not by name. Not voting is not a no vote; a blank cell means the member wasn't listed for that roll call.Congress.gov actions ↗

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Legislative history

1. Feb 14, 2025

   Introduced in House

2. Feb 14, 2025

   Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

3. Aug 29, 2025

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

4. Sep 3, 2025

   Subcommittee Hearings Held

5. Sep 17, 2025

   Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged

6. Sep 17, 2025

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

7. Sep 17, 2025

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 17.

8. Nov 25, 2025

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-386.

9. Nov 25, 2025

   Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 336.

10. Dec 16, 2025

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 951 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.

11. Dec 18, 2025

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 951. (consideration: CR H6044-6049)

12. Dec 18, 2025

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.

13. Dec 18, 2025

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1366.

14. Dec 18, 2025

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

15. Dec 18, 2025

    Ms. Leger Fernandez moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H6049)

16. Dec 18, 2025

    The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

17. Dec 18, 2025

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 1366, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. Leger Fernandez demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

18. Dec 18, 2025

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6069-6070)

19. Dec 18, 2025

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 205 - 213 (Roll no. 357).

20. Dec 18, 2025

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 198 (Roll no. 358).

21. Dec 18, 2025

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 198 (Roll no. 358). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H6044)

22. Dec 18, 2025

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

23. Dec 18, 2025

    Received in the Senate.

24. Mar 17, 2026

    Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 357.

Bill sponsors