HR 3872119th CongressIntroduced

MERICA Act of 2025

Introduced: Jun 10, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4] (R-Texas)

Immigration

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The MERICA Act of 2025 would expand the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to cover hardrock minerals. By revising key definitions, the bill would treat hardrock minerals (as defined in the act) as subject to the same leasing framework that currently governs certain other minerals on lands acquired by the United States. It also adds hardrock minerals to the list of minerals addressed in Section 3 alongside sulfur. In short, the bill extends federal leasing authority and regulatory oversight to hardrock mineral resources located on acquired lands, with the aim of supporting domestic supply for renewable energy and other critical applications. The bill is framed by its full title as a measure to promote mineral extraction for renewable industries and critical applications. While the text provided does not spell out leasing terms, royalties, or environmental requirements, it signals a policy shift to bring hardrock minerals—such as base metals, precious metals, industrial metals, and certain gemstones—under the MLAAL when the lands involved are acquired by the United States.

Key Points

1Expands application of the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to hardrock minerals by adding hardrock minerals to the Act’s scope and updating relevant definitions.
2Hardrock minerals are defined to include deposits of base metals, precious metals, industrial metals, and certain gemstones found in rocks, and to exclude coal, oil, oil shale, gas, sodium, potassium, sulfur, and materials governed by the Materials Act of 1947.
3Adds hardrock minerals to the list of minerals treated under the Act’s Section 3 in conjunction with sulfur, thereby broadening regulatory coverage on acquired lands.
4Recasts several defined terms (United States, acquired lands, Secretary, mineral leasing laws, lease) to align with the expanded scope and to ensure consistent application.
5The bill’s short title, MERICA Act of 2025, signals a focus on securing domestic mineral resources for renewable energy and other critical uses.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: The federal management of acquired lands and hardrock mineral developers/miners who would operate leases on those lands, potentially creating a new stream of federal leases, royalties, and regulatory oversight for hardrock minerals.Secondary group/area affected: States, tribes, and local communities near acquired lands who may experience changes in land use, permitting processes, or environmental oversight; federal agencies (e.g., Department of the Interior) administering the MLAAL would implement new rules and procedures.Additional impacts: Potential changes to revenue from leasing, environmental compliance costs, and possible legal/policy questions about the scope of “acquired lands” and how this interacts with existing state or tribal mineral rights and protections. The bill does not specify royalty rates or leasing terms, so those future details would depend on implementing regulations and future legislation.

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