The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act aims to improve the transparency and efficiency of the hydropower licensing process in the United States. It likely includes measures to streamline the application process for hydropower projects, enhance public access to information regarding licensing decisions, and promote stakeholder engagement in the licensing process.
S. 3500 was introduced in the 119th Congress by Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat) and is currently listed as “Reported by Committee”. It is classified under the Energy policy area, one of 123 bills in that area we track this Congress.
Catherine Cortez Masto is the sponsor of 28 bills in our database this Congress, so S. 3500 is part of a broader legislative agenda rather than a one-off proposal.
Senate lobbying disclosures list 15 organizations lobbying on this bill’s issue area.
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates S. 3500 3/10 (low risk), higher than 87% of analyzed bills; the average in Energy is 2.2/10.
Supporters of the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act have praised it for potentially accelerating the development of renewable energy sources. They argue that by making the licensing process more transparent and efficient, the bill could lead to increased investment in hydropower, which is a key component of the nation's clean energy goals.
Critics of the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act have raised concerns that the bill may undermine environmental protections by speeding up the licensing process without adequate oversight. Some environmental groups fear that increased hydropower development could lead to negative impacts on local ecosystems and water quality.
The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act, sponsored by Catherine Cortez Masto, does not show any direct industry overlaps with her top donor industries, which suggests a lower likelihood of conflicts of interest. The lobbying activity related to this bill includes contributions from various organizations, such as the SAFE ALLIANCE and CIRRUS DESIGN CORPORATION, which contributed $30,000 and $40,000 respectively. However, these contributions do not directly correlate with the industries that typically influence hydropower legislation, indicating that the financial interests of her donors are not aligned with the bill's subject matter. Voters should note that while there are significant contributions from lobbyists, the absence of direct industry overlaps reduces the potential for conflicts.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CAPE | BALLARD PARTNERS | $120,000 |
| NATIONAL ANIMAL SUPPLEMENT COUNCIL | NATIONAL ANIMAL SUPPLEMENT COUNCIL | $90,000 |
| CIRRUS DESIGN CORPORATION | ELEVATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC | $40,000 |
| SAFE ALLIANCE | ADVANCED ENERGY ADVISORS | $30,000 |
| CLAIRITY, INC. | POLSINELLI PC | $30,000 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION | DOUBLE HAUL STRATEGIES LLC | $9,000 |
| COMMUNITY BANK ADVISORY SERVICES, LLC | COMMUNITY BANK ADVISORY SERVICES, LLC | undisclosed |
| FERRETLY INTERNATIONAL, INC. | INVARIANT LLC | undisclosed |
| PDE ACTION | PDE ACTION | undisclosed |
| FORDHAM UNIVERSITY | FORDHAM UNIVERSITY | undisclosed |
| XTREME CONCEPTS | ROSS TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES, LLC | undisclosed |
| SILICON RANCH | ROSS TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES, LLC | undisclosed |
| WELLS FARGO | HAAS STRATEGIES LLC | undisclosed |
| ORGANOVO HOLDINGS, INC. FKA: ORGANOVO, INC. | POLSINELLI PC | undisclosed |
| BREAS MEDICAL | POLSINELLI PC | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
What does S. 3500 do?
The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act aims to improve the transparency and efficiency of the hydropower licensing process in the United States. It likely includes measures to streamline the application process for hydropower projects, enhance public access to information regarding licensing decisions, and promote stakeholder engagement in the licensing process.
Has S. 3500 received a floor vote?
No roll-call vote on S. 3500 is recorded in our database yet. Its current status is “Reported by Committee”.
Does S. 3500 have a conflict of interest?
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates S. 3500 3/10 (low risk), higher than 87% of analyzed bills; the average in Energy is 2.2/10. This score reflects overlap between the sponsor’s campaign funding, lobbying activity, and the industries the bill affects. It is a transparency indicator, not an accusation.
What is the status of S. 3500?
S. 3500 is currently “Reported by Committee” as of our last update on June 12, 2026.
Who sponsored S. 3500?
S. 3500 was sponsored by Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat).
