This bill requires the Secretary of the Army to create standardized procedures for reviewing applications from hydropower companies seeking permission to alter or use existing power projects on federally managed waterways. The Secretary must issue guidance within one year that includes a checklist of required documents, clear definitions of what makes an application complete, timelines for phased reviews, and procedures for escalating delayed applications. The new guidance aims to streamline the review process by limiting completeness checks to verifying that required documents are submitted in proper format, while explicitly prohibiting detailed engineering analysis, requests for design changes, or consideration of environmental standards enacted after an application is submitted. This legislation affects non-federal hydropower operators, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which will be consulted during the development of the guidance.