The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 streamlines the permitting process for natural gas pipelines and other energy projects by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews and establishing strict deadlines for federal and state agencies to complete their portions of the review. The bill also modifies water quality laws to reduce the number of required certifications for discharges into navigable waters, extends the validity of certain nationwide permits for dredged or fill material from five to ten years, and creates a new fund to address abandoned hardrock mines. Additionally, the legislation updates the National Environmental Policy Act to limit the scope of environmental reviews to effects directly caused by a project, impose specific timelines for agency decisions, and restrict the ability of courts to issue injunctions that would halt construction while legal challenges are pending.
The FREEDOM Act aims to speed up energy infrastructure development by establishing strict federal deadlines for reviewing applications for oil, gas, and mineral projects on public lands. It requires agencies to publish project schedules and issue final decisions within specific timeframes, with automatic legal consequences if those deadlines are missed. The bill also creates a new Permitting Performance Fund to pay for independent contractors who can help complete stalled environmental reviews when agencies fail to meet their timelines. Additionally, the legislation introduces specific measures for geothermal energy, including a new ombudsman to resolve disputes, updated permitting guidelines, and revised royalty rates for electricity generated from geothermal sources.
The JOAN Act streamlines the approval process for natural gas projects by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews and establishing strict deadlines for all involved federal and state agencies to complete their permitting steps. To speed up legal challenges, the bill creates a single, exclusive court process for lawsuits against these projects, which must be resolved within 180 days and limits the ability of courts to issue long-term injunctions or order new evidence gathering. Additionally, the legislation allows project sponsors to continue construction on unaffected parts of a project while legal disputes are ongoing and requires agencies to accept data gathered through remote surveys like aerial photography.
The Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026 prohibits individuals and organizations from filing lawsuits or seeking damages against energy companies for alleged harms caused by climate change or greenhouse gas emissions. This legislation declares that regulating emissions is exclusively a federal responsibility and voids any state laws that attempt to hold energy businesses liable for past or future environmental damage. Consequently, the bill bars courts from hearing these cases and requires any pending lawsuits of this nature to be immediately dismissed. By defining "climate suits" broadly to include claims based on marketing or warnings, the law aims to prevent states from imposing financial penalties on the energy sector.
This bill proposes to pause the clean electricity production tax credit for two years, from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The change would affect electricity generators who currently receive tax benefits for producing clean energy during this period. Money that would have gone to the Treasury from these suspended credits would instead be transferred to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve's funding account. The legislation aims to redirect federal tax revenue to support petroleum stockpiles while temporarily reducing incentives for clean electricity production.
HR 6213, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the U.S. Department of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing OSHA's proposed "Heat Injury and Illness Prevention" standard (published August 30, 2024). This bill directly blocks the specific regulatory proposal targeting heat safety in both outdoor and indoor work settings. It does not create new requirements or affect workers; it solely prevents the implementation of the existing OSHA proposal. The bill is procedural, focusing on halting a regulatory action rather than establishing new policy.
This bill prevents state or local governments from banning or restricting energy connections (like installation, modification, or access) based on the type or source of energy, such as electricity, natural gas, or renewable fuels. It directly affects consumers choosing energy providers and energy companies seeking to offer services. The key provision prohibits local laws, regulations, or policies that limit energy services sold in interstate commerce, covering all energy types listed in the bill’s definitions. It does not create new programs but limits regulatory authority at the state or local level. The law aims to ensure open access to diverse energy sources without source-based restrictions.
HR 3194, the LOCOMOTIVES Act, prevents states from setting their own emissions standards for locomotives used in interstate commerce. It amends the Clean Air Act to clarify that federal emissions rules exclusively apply to locomotives providing common carrier railroad transportation for hire (like commercial freight or passenger services across state lines), excluding these from state regulation. This directly affects railroads operating interstate services and state environmental agencies that previously could establish stricter local rules for such locomotives. The bill does not change the actual emissions requirements but shifts regulatory authority solely to the federal government for this specific category of locomotives.
Transportation Freedom Act This bill reduces taxes on auto companies and repeals specified environmental regulations on cars and trucks. The bill establishes a new tax deduction equal to 200% of eligible wages paid or incurred by domestic producers of automobiles or automobile components, subject to limitations. It also allows an entity to reduce (and adjust) its financial statement income (for purposes of calculating liability for the alternative minimum tax) by the amount of eligible wages it elects to deduct. The bill nullifies the 2024 rules of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding (1) the finalization of specified greenhouse gas (GHG) programs and the reduction of emissions from certain light-duty and medium-duty vehicles (e.g., cars and trucks that are under a certain weight) starting with model year 2027, and (2) phase three of GHG emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (e.g., school buses and tractor-trailer trucks). It also repeals the 2024 rules of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for certain cars, trucks, and vans. Additionally, the bill eliminates (1) the option given to California to set standards for car emissions that are more stringent than those set under the Clean Air Act, and (2) the option for other states to adopt California's standards. NHTSA and the EPA must establish new CAFE and GHG standards, respectively, for vehicles that are economically practicable and technologically feasible. The GHG standards may not require the production or sale of electric vehicles.
The PERMIT Act (HR 3898) amends the definition of "navigable waters" under the Clean Water Act to exclude specific water features from federal regulation. It explicitly removes waste treatment systems, ephemeral streams (flowing only after rain), prior converted cropland, groundwater, and other features designated by regulators. This change directly affects federal agencies like the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers, reducing their jurisdiction over these excluded water bodies. The bill aims to streamline permitting by clarifying which waters fall under federal Clean Water Act oversight.
