July 23, 2026
Mr. Neguse introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To require the Secretary of the Interior to meaningfully involve the public and State, Tribal, and local government officials prior to determining whether to offer certain parcels of land for oil or gas leasing, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Local Input Act
.
Sec. 2. Requirement for meaningful involvement in leasing determinations
(a) Meaningful involvement
(1) In general
Prior to offering a parcel of land for oil or gas leasing under section 17 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226), the Secretary of the Interior shall meaningfully involve the public and State, Tribal, and local government officials in determining whether to offer that parcel for leasing under such section.
(2) Minimum requirements
The meaningful involvement required by paragraph (1) for a parcel of land shall include, at a minimum—
(A)
public disclosure of—
(i)
the proposal to offer such parcel for leasing; and
(ii)
an analysis of the expected effects of offering such parcel for leasing on—
(I)
the surface and subsurface resources of the parcel; and
(II)
uses of the parcel other than uses for oil or gas activities, including any such uses considered in a land use plan developed for the parcel under section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712);
(B)
an opportunity for the public to comment on such proposal; and
(C)
any consideration of input, including from—
(i)
the public;
(ii)
State and local governments; and
(iii)
government-to-government consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes.
(b) Leasing determination
Based on the meaningful involvement required by subsection (a) for a parcel of land, the Secretary of the Interior may decide not to offer such parcel for oil or gas leasing under section 17 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226).