HB 2076 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act providing for geothermal energy development; imposing duties on the Department of Environmental Protection; promulgating regulations; establishing the Geothermal Energy Development Fund; and imposing penalties.

HB 2076 establishes a regulatory framework for geothermal energy development in Pennsylvania, requiring the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create rules for project approvals, environmental safeguards, and well operations. The bill creates a Geothermal Energy Development Fund to support industry growth and imposes civil penalties for violations of the new regulations. It directly affects geothermal developers (who must comply with DEP rules) and the DEP (which must implement the regulations). Key provisions include defining geothermal resources, setting standards for well operations, and ensuring environmental protections for projects.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 3, 2025 Last action May 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN3176 → Printer's No. PN3319 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This updated version of the bill adds a new sponsor, Takac, and updates the legislative history to reflect amendments made on April 29, 2026. The text also reorganizes the bill's sections to improve clarity and moves specific regulatory details regarding well safety, bonding, and fee structures from the general regulations section into a dedicated section on estate owner objections and procedures. These changes aim to streamline the permitting process and clarify how disputes with landowners are handled.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on regulating geothermal energy development, but the procedural rules for handling objections from landowners and the organization of regulatory requirements have been modified to address potential conflicts between geothermal drilling and existing mineral rights.

ELIGIBILITY

Added Representative Takac to the list of bill sponsors.

TIMELINE

Updated the amendment date from April 13, 2026, to April 29, 2026, and added a note indicating the bill was amended on second consideration.

REQUIREMENT

Restructured the bill to create a dedicated section (Section 7) for estate owner objections, clarifying the process for notifying landowners within 1,500 feet of a well and the specific steps operators must take if an objection is raised regarding coal or oil and gas interests.

Moved detailed regulations on well safety, bonding requirements, and fee structures from the general regulations section into the new estate owner objections section to group related operational rules.

DEFINITION

Updated the Table of Contents and section numbering to reflect the new organizational structure, ensuring the bill's navigation is accurate.

Floor votes · House May 4, 2026

How they voted

118–83

Passed

Total votes 201

May 4, 2026

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican99

16 Yea 83 Nay

83% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 7, 2026

Committee

Referred to Environmental Resources & Energy

upper

May 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

May 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Dec 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Energy

lower

1 primary · 17 co-sponsors