A bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to provide for the payment of bonus payments of certain coal leases issued under that Act.

Overview

S. 4410 is a bill introduced in the 119th Congress that amends the Mineral Leasing Act to address the payment of bonus payments for coal leases issued under that Act. The sponsors include Senators Mike Lee, John Barrasso, Cynthia Lummis, and Tim Sheehy. The bill was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on April 28, 2026.

Purpose and Intent

• The primary aim is to modify how bonus payments are handled for coal leases issued under the Mineral Leasing Act.
• The underlying objective appears to be ensuring or altering the timing, amount, or manner in which bonus payments are paid for coal lease concessions granted by the federal government under the Mineral Leasing Act.

Key Provisions (as described in the summary)

• The bill would amend the statutory framework governing bonus payments for coal leases issued under the Mineral Leasing Act.
• Specific textual provisions (e.g., changes to calculation methods, due dates, eligibility, or allocation) are not provided in the summary. The core adjustment centers on the administration of bonus payments tied to coal leases.

Who and What Is Affected

• Federal coal leases granted under the Mineral Leasing Act would be directly impacted.
• The Department of the Interior (or the agency administering mineral leasing) and related regulatory and financial processes would implement the revised bonus payment framework.
• Lessees holding coal leases (public or private parties receiving federal coal leases) would be subject to the updated payment terms.
• Potentially affected stakeholders include coal producers, state counterparts involved in leasing, and royalty/bonus collection offices.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Action History:
  • Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on April 28, 2026.
  • Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the same date.
• No further floor actions, amendments, or enacted dates are listed in the provided record.
• If advanced, the bill would likely move through committee consideration, potential hearings, and then floor debate and passage in the Senate; then, if passed, move to the House for consideration (or vice versa, depending on legislative handling).

Practical Implications

• For coal lease issuances, the timing and mechanics of bonus payments could change, potentially affecting cash flow to the federal government and private lessees.
• Depending on the specifics, the bill could streamline, restructure, or alter reporting, accounting, and enforcement related to bonus payments.
• The broader impact would hinge on the exact amendments to the Mineral Leasing Act’s bonus payment provisions (e.g., whether it changes payment schedules, triggers, penalties for late payments, or allocation of revenues).

Notes

• The summary provided does not include the bill’s exact text or section-by-section provisions. For a precise understanding, the full text of S. 4410 and any regulatory impact notes or fiscal assessments would be necessary.