Who sponsored H.R. 7872?

H.R. 7872 was sponsored by Harriet Hageman (R-WY). Harriet Hageman introduced this energy bill in the House on 2026-03-09.

H.R. 7872: To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to provide for the payment of bonus payments of certain coal leases issued under that Act.

Q: What is the status of H.R. 7872?

H.R. 7872 is currently in committee. Latest action: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.. Introduced on 2026-03-09 by Harriet Hageman.

Introduced Mar 9, 20260 cosponsors

Sponsor

Harriet Hageman

Republican · WY

Bill Progress

IntroducedMar 9

Committee

Pass House

Pass Senate

Signed

Law

Latest Action · Mar 9, 2026

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Coal lease bids get 10-year terms

3 min readLast updated March 11, 2026

Why it matters

Introduced on March 9, 2026, H.R. 7872 would change the cash terms for certain federal coal lease bids by locking in a 10-installment payment schedule and requiring the first payment upfront with the bid.

For the federal government, the bill standardizes timing but may delay when some bonus revenue is fully collected, since the payment stream would run across 10 years. The bill does not state any dollar amount, does not create a new grant or spending program, and does not include penalties, age ranges, or separate enforcement deadlines beyond the requirement that the first installment be submitted with the bid. Introduced by Ms. Hageman on March 9, 2026, it was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

What does H.R. 7872 do?

10 equal annual installments required

The bill requires bonus payments for covered coal leases to be paid in exactly 10 equal annual installments, replacing any other deferred payment structure for leases issued under section 2(a) of the Mineral Leasing Act, 30 U.S.C. 201(a).

First payment due with the bid

The first of the 10 equal annual installments must be submitted together with the bid for the lease, creating an immediate upfront payment requirement at the time of bidding.

Applies only to deferred bonus payment leases

The new rule applies only when a coal lease is issued using a "system of deferred bonus payment," so it does not automatically rewrite payment terms for every federal coal lease.

Amends Mineral Leasing Act at 30 U.S.C. 201(a)

H.R. 7872 amends section 2(a) of the Mineral Leasing Act, codified at 30 U.S.C. 201(a), by adding a new paragraph (6) at the end, making this a targeted statutory edit rather than a broad rewrite.

Introduced March 9, 2026 by Ms. Hageman

The bill was introduced on March 9, 2026, by Ms. Hageman and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, signaling that the proposal is at an early stage in the legislative process.

Who benefits from H.R. 7872?

Coal lease bidders using deferred payment terms

These bidders gain a fixed payment schedule of 10 equal annual installments, which can make large bonus obligations easier to budget over 10 years instead of facing a shorter or less certain deferred schedule.

Coal companies managing cash flow

Companies bidding on covered leases would still owe the first installment with the bid, but the remaining balance would be spread across 9 additional annual installments, easing near-term cash demands.

Federal leasing administrators

Agencies administering coal leases under the Mineral Leasing Act get a clearer rule: if a lease uses a deferred bonus payment system, the payment schedule must be 10 equal annual installments and installment one arrives with the bid.

Investors and lenders tied to coal projects

A statutory 10-year installment structure under 30 U.S.C. 201(a) may make financing assumptions more predictable because payment timing is set in law rather than left open to varying deferred terms.

Who is affected by H.R. 7872?

Companies bidding on federal coal leases

Any entity participating in bidding for a coal lease that uses a deferred bonus payment system would have to submit the first installment with its bid and then make 9 more equal annual payments.

Department of the Interior leasing officials

Federal officials responsible for implementing the Mineral Leasing Act would need to apply the new paragraph (6) in 30 U.S.C. 201(a) and structure covered lease bonus payments in 10 equal annual installments.

Federal budget and revenue planners

Because bonus payments for covered leases would be collected over 10 years, revenue timing could shift even though the bill does not specify any dollar amount or change royalty rates.

Competing bidders in lease sales

Bidders would face the same upfront rule that the first installment must accompany the bid, which could affect who is able or willing to compete for leases requiring immediate cash at submission.

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On the Record

What Congress Is Saying

H.R. 7872 hasn't been debated on the floor yet.

This section updates when a legislator speaks about it on the floor or in committee.

HR7872 Legislative Journey

1 actions

House: Committee Action

Mar 9, 2026

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

About the Sponsor

Harriet Hageman

Republican, Wyoming · 3 years in Congress

Committees: House Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6, 2021, Natural Resources, the Judiciary

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Committee Sponsors

Natural Resources Committee

19D24R

|0 signed43 not yet

0 of 43 committee members cosponsored

No committee members have cosponsored this bill

24 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents

What laws does H.R. 7872 change?

1 changes

Full Text

Sections Amended

Section 2(a) of Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 201(a))

adding at the end the following: ``(6) The bonus payments for a lease issued under this subsection under a system of deferred bonus payment shall be payable in 10 equal annual installments, the first of which shall be submitted with the bid for such lease

H.R. 7872 Quick Facts

Cosponsors

Committee: Natural Resources
Chamber: House
Policy: Energy
Introduced: Mar 9, 2026

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Mar 9, 2026

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H.R. 7872 Bill Text

PDF

“To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to provide for the payment of bonus payments of certain coal leases issued under that Act. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. BONUS PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN COAL LEASES ISSUED UNDER MINERAL LEASING ACT.”

Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office

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