Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (16 Sep 2026): Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
What this bill does
This bill would amend the Federal Power Act's hydropower licensing provisions to narrow the scope of certain conditions federal agencies can impose on hydropower projects. Under current law, the Secretary of the relevant department may set conditions on hydropower licenses to protect federal reservations (such as national forests or Indian reservations), and may require fishways to protect fish populations. The bill adds language specifying that these conditions and fishway requirements must be limited to reasonably mitigating the direct adverse effects of the specific hydropower project in question, rather than serving broader purposes.
The bill primarily affects entities involved in hydropower licensing: companies seeking or holding hydropower licenses from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, federal land-managing agencies that set conditions to protect reservations, and agencies responsible for prescribing fishways to protect fish populations. By tying these requirements more directly to a project's specific effects, the bill could change how license conditions are formulated and potentially the scope of obligations placed on license applicants.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on July 21, 2026, by Senator Steve Daines, with Senators Risch and Murkowski as cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. As an introduced bill, it would need committee consideration, potential amendment, and votes in both the Senate and House before it could become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
16 Sep 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
Common questions
- What does S. 5048 do?
- This bill would amend the Federal Power Act's hydropower licensing provisions to narrow the scope of certain conditions federal agencies can impose on hydropower projects. Under current law, the Secretary of the relevant department may set conditions on hydropower licenses to protect federal reservations (such as national forests or Indian reservations), and may require fishways to protect fish populations. The bill adds language specifying that these conditions and fishway requirements must be limited to reasonably mitigating the direct adverse effects of the specific hydropower project in question, rather than serving broader purposes. The bill primarily affects entities involved in hydropower licensing: companies seeking or holding hydropower licenses from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, federal land-managing agencies that set conditions to protect reservations, and agencies responsible for prescribing fishways to protect fish populations. By tying these requirements more directly to a project's specific effects, the bill could change how license conditions are formulated and potentially the scope of obligations placed on license applicants. The bill was introduced in the Senate on July 21, 2026, by Senator Steve Daines, with Senators Risch and Murkowski as cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. As an introduced bill, it would need committee consideration, potential amendment, and votes in both the Senate and House before it could become law.
- Has S. 5048 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 5048. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 5048?
- S. 5048 was sponsored by Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (R-MT), with 4 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 5048?
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. (16 Sep 2026).
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