Hydropower Construction Deadline Extensions
A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.
Signed into law May 11, 2026 · Energy
What this law does
- Lets federal energy regulators give hydropower projects licensed before March 13, 2020, up to six more years to start construction, at the license holder's request.
- Requires the extra time to be given in no more than three back-to-back two-year periods.
- Allows regulators to restore certain expired licenses for projects whose deadlines are extended under this law.
Plain-language list by Voting On, based only on the official summary by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service and the bill's titles. Read the official summary.
How it became law
- IntroducedMar 13, 2025 · Senate
- 138 daysPassed SenateJul 29, 2025
- 266 daysPassed HouseApr 21, 2026
- 9 daysPresented to the PresidentApr 30, 2026
- 11 daysSigned into lawMay 11, 2026
Official summary
This act authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend construction deadlines for hydropower projects that were issued a license before March 13, 2020. FERC is authorized, upon the request of the licensees, to extend the deadline for beginning construction on such projects an additional six years beyond the eight-year extension FERC is authorized to provide under current law. The extension must consist of no more than three consecutive two-year periods.
The act also provides that FERC may reinstate certain expired licenses for projects with construction deadlines extended under this act, effective as of the date they expire.
Summary by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (Public Law, May 11, 2026).
Who wrote it
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
7 cosponsors: 1 Democrats, 6 Republicans. 5 signed on the day it was introduced, 2 joined later.
Show all cosponsors
| Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|
| Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] | Mar 13, 2025 | Original cosponsor |
| Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] | Mar 13, 2025 | Original cosponsor |
| Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] | Mar 13, 2025 | Original cosponsor |
| Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] | Mar 13, 2025 | Original cosponsor |
| Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT] | Mar 13, 2025 | Original cosponsor |
| Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] | Mar 24, 2025 | |
| Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA] | Jul 31, 2025 |
Recorded votes
| Date | Chamber | Vote | Yeas | Nays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 2026 | House | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 394 - 14 (Roll no. 129). | 394 | 14 |
What was added
Amendments adopted (0)
No floor amendments were adopted. Any changes were made in committee or in a later version of the bill.
Sections in the final law that were not in the first version (Introduced in Senate) (0)
None. Every section heading in the final law was already in the first version (Introduced in Senate).
What was removed
Sections in the first version (Introduced in Senate) that did not make it into the law (0)
None. Every section heading from the first version (Introduced in Senate) remains in the law.
Compared by section heading between the Introduced in Senate text (Mar 13, 2025) and the Enrolled Bill text, both from GovInfo. Wording changes inside a section that kept its heading are not shown here; see the amendments and the text versions.
Proposed but not adopted
No amendments were voted down or withdrawn.
Full action history
Show all 23 official actions
| May 11, 2026 | Signed by President. |
| May 11, 2026 | Signed by President. |
| May 11, 2026 | Became Public Law No: 119-90. |
| May 11, 2026 | Became Public Law No: 119-90. |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Presented to President. |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Presented to President. |
| Apr 21, 2026 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| Apr 21, 2026 | Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 394 - 14 (Roll no. 129). (text: CR H3024) |
| Apr 21, 2026 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 394 - 14 (Roll no. 129). (text: CR H3024) |
| Apr 21, 2026 | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3026-3027) |
| Apr 21, 2026 | At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. |
| Apr 21, 2026 | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1020. |
| Apr 21, 2026 | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3024-3025) |
| Apr 21, 2026 | Mrs. Harshbarger moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. |
| Aug 1, 2025 | Held at the desk. |
| Aug 1, 2025 | Received in the House. |
| Aug 1, 2025 | Message on Senate action sent to the House. |
| Jul 29, 2025 | Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent. |
| Jul 29, 2025 | Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent. |
| Jul 29, 2025 | Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4797-4798; text: CR S4797-4798) |
| Jul 29, 2025 | Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4797-4798; text: CR S4797-4798) |
| Mar 13, 2025 | Introduced in Senate |
| Mar 13, 2025 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. |
Sources: Congress.gov (bill record, sponsors, actions, amendments, CRS summary) and GovInfo (official text). Days are calendar days.