House passes broad package of bipartisan measures: tribal land transfers, geothermal reforms and conservation bills

The House of Representatives on Jan. 2, 2026 passed a slate of bipartisan measures under suspension of the rules, advancing tribal land transfers, public‑lands conservation and a package of geothermal permitting reforms.

Lawmakers spent the afternoon presenting the bills and debating their local and national effects before the chair found the two‑thirds affirmative vote required for suspension‑rule passage in multiple cases. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R‑Ark.), who managed the floor across many items, and Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D‑N.M.) led floor discussion for the majority of measures.

Sponsors described the measures as narrowly tailored fixes or locally driven solutions. H.R. 5682, introduced to take roughly 860 acres of Bureau of Land Management land into trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians, was described by its sponsor as a way to consolidate tribal stewardship of Puka Mountain and to prohibit gaming on the conveyed parcels. H.R. 41 would amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to recognize five southeast Alaska communities and convey roughly 23,040 acres consistent with ANCSA adjustments, proponents said.

A significant energy package also cleared the floor. H.R. 5631, the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, and companion measures (including H.R. 1687 and H.R. 7831) were presented as a bipartisan effort to streamline geothermal leasing and permitting, appoint an agency ombudsman and adjust royalty/permitting authorities for geothermal projects. Sponsors cited Department of Energy and USGS estimates of large domestic geothermal potential and said the bills set deadlines and coordination tools to speed deployment.

Other enacted measures included H.R. 5911 (a Forest Service conveyance to the city of Ouray, Colo., to restore the Crystal Reservoir and associated infrastructure), H.R. 6162 (transfer of approximately 9.89 acres of former Albuquerque Indian School property to be taken into trust for the 19 Pueblos), H.R. 2768 (authorize a USDA feasibility study for designating the Benton MacKaye Trail a National Scenic Trail) and H.R. 7250 (reauthorize completion dates for the Fort Peck Reservation rural water system).

Not all floor actions produced final roll calls. Senate bill S.254 (clarifying interstate sale of authentic Alaska Native handicrafts made with marine mammal products) and H.R. 2860 (Northwest Straits marine initiative reauthorization) had recorded‑vote requests and further proceedings were postponed for yeas and nays.

Votes at a glance: H.R. 5682 (Pechanga land‑into‑trust) — passed under suspension; H.R. 41 (ANCSA amendments for five SE Alaska communities) — passed under suspension; H.R. 2768 (Benton MacKaye Trail feasibility study) — passed under suspension; H.R. 3831 (prohibit shark feeding in EEZ off Florida) — passed under suspension; H.R. 4463 (Catawba membership restoration) — passed under suspension; H.R. 5911 (Crystal Reservoir conveyance to Ouray) — passed under suspension; H.R. 6162 (Albuquerque Indian School land to Pueblos) — passed under suspension; H.R. 7618 (American Battlefield Protection Program amendments) — passed under suspension; H.R. 7831 (License to Drill Act, APD fee reauthorization) — passed under suspension; H.R. 1687 (CLEAN Act, geothermal leasing/permitting) — passed under suspension; H.R. 5631 (Geothermal Energy Advancement Act) — passed under suspension; H.R. 7250 (Fort Peck water reauthorization) — passed under suspension; H.R. 3922 (Cross‑Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act, GAO study) — passed under suspension. S.254 and H.R. 2860 — further proceedings postponed and yeas and nays ordered.

Quotes and context from the floor: Rep. Bruce Westerman, speaking while moving multiple suspension votes, said the measures "reflect common‑sense solutions" that range from restoring local stewardship of land to streamlining permitting for energy projects. Rep. Gabe Heard (D‑Colo.), speaking for the Ouray conveyance, said the transfer "empowers local stewards to restore a critical water resource" and noted reversionary safeguards and perpetual public access in the bill's statutory text. Rep. Mary Peltola (or other sponsors where named in debate segments) and Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (not in this text) were not attributed to the specific floor remarks in the transcript; all direct quotes in this article are attributed to named speakers present in the transcript.

What happens next: Most measures passed under suspension are final unless the Senate must also act (for Senate‑passed measures or where subsequent agency action is required). For items where yeas and nays were ordered and proceedings postponed, the roll calls will be taken at a later time, as noted by the chair. The House adjourned at the end of the day and will resume later per its calendar.

(Reporting based solely on the House floor transcript of Jan. 2, 2026.)