National Dam and Hydropower Safety Improvements Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
Introduced
Summary
Federal dam safety oversight would be strengthened by tying hydropower licenses to clear safety duties, new financial checks, and improved communication with States.
Show full summary
- Licensees would have an affirmative duty to meet Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dam safety standards and to operate and maintain project works in a way that ensures dam and public safety. New licenses would be issued only if the dam meets safety requirements or the license contains a plan to fix any noncompliance.
- FERC would be required to assess an applicant's financial viability to meet dam safety requirements and to operate the project under a license.
- FERC would hold a technical conference with States by October 1, 2027 to discuss maintenance, risk informed decision making, climate and hydrological changes, and high hazard dams. FERC would also have to notify States when a repair finding requires action, when five years pass with no repairs, or when it begins noncompliance or revocation steps, and it must provide States full records if a license is revoked or surrendered.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
State alerts, records, and conference
If enacted, FERC would have to notify each State when a dam inspection finding requires repairs, when five years pass without those repairs, and when FERC starts a non-compliance case or takes steps to revoke a license. If FERC revokes or accepts surrender of a license, it would consult the State and provide inspection reports, repair specifications and cost estimates for incomplete work, maintenance history, the dam's age and hazard classification, the most recent condition assessment, hydrologic data used to estimate maximum flood potential, and recent risk assessment results. The bill would also require FERC to hold a technical conference with States by October 1, 2027 on dam maintenance and repair, risk-informed decision making, regional climate and hydrologic changes, and high hazard dams.
Stronger dam license and finance checks
If enacted, FERC would only be able to issue a new hydropower license if the dam and project works meet FERC's dam safety rules or the new license includes a plan to fix any safety noncompliance. The bill would require licensees to manage, operate, and maintain dams and project works so they remain safe under the license's operating conditions. If enacted, FERC would also have to set up procedures to check whether a license applicant has the financial ability to meet dam safety requirements and to operate the dam under the license.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
MI • R
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov