# U.S. Senate Advances Hydropower Licensing Reform

The U.S. Senate has passed the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act, sponsored by Senators Steve Daines and Catherine Cortez Masto, which aims to reform and expedite the hydropower licensing and relicensing process by increasing transparency and reducing bureaucratic delays. This legislation is expected to shorten the permitting timeline, which currently averages seven to ten years, thereby unlocking new opportunities for contractors and suppliers involved in hydropower infrastructure projects. The bill now heads to the President's desk for signature, signaling potential near-term changes in federal hydropower procurement and project development timelines.

- **Why this matters:** Procurement professionals should anticipate accelerated hydropower project timelines and increased federal contracting opportunities as licensing delays are reduced.
- Contractors specializing in hydropower infrastructure, environmental compliance, and related services may see expanded demand due to streamlined permitting.
- Organizations involved in energy infrastructure should evaluate their readiness to engage with faster-moving federal hydropower projects.
- Legislative contacts such as Gabby Wiggins (gabby_wiggins@daines.senate.gov) can provide further information on implementation and related procurement initiatives.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 16, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Senate

### Key Quotes
> As costs rise and demand surges, we need to adopt an all-of-the-above approach when it comes to energy. That includes hydropower. But right now, bureaucratic delays are causing the relicensing process for hydropower projects to take an average of seven to ten years. Today, Senator Daines and I delivered a solution that will slash red tape and unleash American hydropower.
> — Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator

> This is a huge win for Montana and the entire country. Hydropower is an affordable, reliable source of baseload power that is necessary to meet the growing demand for U.S. energy. This bill will help shed light on much-needed reforms to improve the licensing process and reduce the permitting backlog, and I’m glad to have worked with Senator Cortez Masto to get it through the Senate. Let’s get it signed into law!
> — Steve Daines, Senator

### Sources
- [Daines, Cortez Masto Bill to Bolster Made-In-America Hydropower Passes U.S. Senate, Heads to President’s Desk - Senator Steve Daines](https://www.daines.senate.gov/2026/09/16/daines-cortez-masto-bill-to-bolster-made-in-america-hydropower-passes-u-s-senate-heads-to-presidents-desk/) - Daines Senate