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Bill

HR 8851

One Giant LEAP Act

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Haridopolos and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a DOT electronic portal to file, track, and display licenses and related communications for commercial space launches, with public timeline transparency.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8851

Purpose and intent

  • Introduces the One Giant Licensing Electronic Application Portal Act (One Giant LEAP Act).
  • Main goal: create an electronic processing portal to streamline licenses and other approvals related to commercial space launch activities.
  • Requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish this portal and use it for processing related applications and secretarial functions.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of the Portal

    • Adds a new section (§50925) to Chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code.
    • The Secretary of Transportation must establish the Portal no later than one year after enactment.

  • Functions and capabilities of the Portal

    • Submitting and modifying applications for licenses and approvals.
    • Logging communications about an application, license, or approval among:
    • The Secretary of Transportation
    • Each applicant and recipient of the approval
    • Heads of Federal departments/agencies consulted under section 50918
    • Managing submission and access to documentation related to approvals.
    • Making secretarial determinations related to applications.

  • Information display and transparency (internal and public)

    • The Portal must display detailed timeline data for each application, including:
    • Pre-application consultation start date
    • Date of application submission
    • Date of acceptance or rejection
    • Dates of requested and Secretary-made modifications
    • Dates of consultations with other federal agencies and the start/end dates of those consultations
    • The specific date when the Secretary carries out the function or denies the application
    • The Portal must display:
    • The number of days between key dates (e.g., application submission to decision, modification dates to decision)
    • The status of the application
    • Public display requirements mirror the internal data, including submission date, acceptance/rejection, modification dates, and final status.

  • Clerical amendments

    • Updates the table of sections to add the new §50925 entry for the electronic processing portal.

Who/what is affected

  • Federal agency: Department of Transportation (DOT) must implement and operate the Portal.
  • Commercial space launch applicants and recipients of licenses/approvals (e.g., launch providers, satellite operators) who would use the Portal to file applications, track status, and access communications and documentation.
  • Other Federal departments and agencies involved in launches (via consultations under existing authorities, e.g., section 50918) whose communications and interagency processes would be logged and possibly displayed.
  • Public stakeholders who seek visibility into licensing timelines and status.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective timing: Portal must be established within one year after enactment.
  • Process reform: The bill centralizes and digitizes licensing workflows, communications, and documentation management for commercial space launches.
  • Transparency timeline: The bill emphasizes publicly displayable milestones and timing metrics for each license/application, potentially increasing public and industry visibility into processing timelines and interagency coordination.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Efficiency: A centralized electronic portal could reduce administrative friction, standardize workflows, and accelerate processing of licenses and approvals.
  • Accountability: Publicly displayable timelines may improve accountability and expectations for applicants.
  • Privacy and security: The portal will handle sensitive information; appropriate safeguards for confidential or sensitive data will be essential.
  • Interagency coordination: Logs and communications with other federal agencies will be tracked, potentially influencing how consultations are managed and timeliness measured.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text as introduced (May 15, 2026) and does not reflect any amendments, House passage, Senate action, or final enacted language.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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