Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
Latest action · Jul 21, 2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMay 13, 2026
- Passed HouseJul 20, 2026
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to support the development of next-generation geothermal systems, such as closed-loop geothermal systems in supercritical conditions. Specifically, the bill expands the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to modify and establish geothermal energy programs, such as programs concerning research and development, grants, and data management.
DOE must support a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for next-generation geothermal systems. DOE may administer grants for carrying out certain focus areas of the program. DOE must also ensure that at least one Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) field research site has the capabilities to include next-generation geothermal testing.
Additionally, DOE must provide grants for (1) the continuation and expansion of research, development, demonstration, testing, and commercial application activities applicable to FORGE sites; and (2) the establishment of a next-generation geothermal systems center of excellence.
DOE must also provide grants to accelerate the development, testing, and implementation of innovative technologies to improve the commercial-readiness of geothermal energy projects using next-generation geothermal systems.
DOE must expand its repository of geothermal drilling information to include publicly available subsurface data, including data reported as part of fossil fuel and mining operations. DOE must also periodically update the repository to improve its functionality and usability.
The bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to commission the drilling of supercritical geothermal exploration boreholes in certain areas to provide control points for deep heat mapping and geothermal development.
Cosponsors 1
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on May 13, 2026.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-OR | Andrea Salinas | Original | May 13, 2026 |
Committees 3
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Science, Space, and Technology Committee | Referred May 13, 2026Markup May 20, 2026Reported Jul 16, 2026 |
| House | Natural Resources Committee | Referred May 13, 2026Discharged Jul 16, 2026 |
| Senate | Energy and Natural Resources Committee | Referred Jul 21, 2026 |
Actions 13
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Jul 21, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Jul 20, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4667-4668)
- Jul 20, 2026Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4667-4670)
- Jul 20, 2026Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jul 20, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8790.
- Jul 20, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Jul 16, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-752, Part I.
- Jul 16, 2026Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
- Jul 16, 2026Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 655.
- May 20, 2026Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- May 20, 2026Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- May 13, 2026Introduced in House
- May 13, 2026Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In the Congressional Record 1
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | Debate and remarks H4667–H4670Text printed H4667 | Andrea Salinas D-OR, Brian Babin R-TX, Pat Harrigan R-NC | Jul 20, 2026 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Committee report
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 172, no. 81, May 13, 2026, page H3453.
CRS reports 2
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 2
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| IF13331 | Geothermal Resources for Energy Development in the United States | Resource | Oct 20, 2026 |
| IF13278 | Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) Commercialization | Resource | Jul 28, 2026 |
Titles 6
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities in support of next-generation geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems in various conditions, and for other purposes.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
- Short Title(s) as Reported to House
- Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
- Short Title(s) as Passed House
- Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
- Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
- Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
- Official Title from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text
- To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities in support of next-generation geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems in various conditions, and for other purposes.
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Energy.
Text 4
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Jul 21, 2026Referred in Senate
- Jul 20, 2026Engrossed in House
- Jul 16, 2026Reported in House
- May 13, 2026Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
