The Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026 mandates that the Department of Energy finalize specific procedural rules for setting appliance efficiency standards, including requirements for comparative economic analysis and longer lead times before new standards can be proposed. The bill significantly restricts the agency’s ability to issue new or stricter regulations by requiring clear evidence that changes are necessary to ensure product availability and prevent market disruptions, while also prohibiting standards that would eliminate consumer-valued features such as specific fuel types or installation methods. Additionally, it extends compliance timelines for manufacturers to at least five years after a rule is published and requires separate efficiency standards for different venting categories of heating equipment. The legislation also strengthens federal preemption over state and local laws regarding the sale and use of energy-efficient products, explicitly preventing jurisdictions from banning appliances based on their fuel source or emissions, and permanently halts new efficiency standard-setting for distribution transformers.
This bill proposes to reverse several tax incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy that were previously extended by a 2024 law. It would end the tax deduction for energy-efficient commercial buildings, shorten the expiration date for the energy-efficient home credit, and delay the deadline for constructing clean hydrogen facilities. Additionally, the legislation would remove limits on the amount of credits available for clean electricity production and change how the phase-out of these credits is triggered. These changes directly affect property owners, builders, and businesses that currently rely on these specific tax breaks to fund green projects.
This resolution provides for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 4690) to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to repeal certain Federal building energy efficiency performance standards, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1182) expressing support for rural communities across the United States as stewards of the environment, major suppliers of United States energy resources, critical providers of food production and manufacturing capacity, and drivers of national economic stability, and recognizing the work of the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress in support of those vital communities; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1897) to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to optimize conservation through resource prioritization, incentivize wildlife conservation on private lands, provide for greater incentives to recover listed species, create greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species, streamline the permitting process, eliminate barriers to conservation, and restore congressional intent; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5587) to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive the requirement for a Federal drilling permit for certain activities, to exempt certain activities from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.
This joint resolution eliminates new, more stringent energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. Under the joint resolution, such equipment is no longer required to comply with the new standards. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers and published by the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on January 21, 2025. Under the rule, the office adopted new energy conservation standards for commercial refrigeration equipment to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified. The rule required the equipment to comply with the those standards by January 22, 2029.
This bill, known as the Stop Taxing Our Power Act, prevents states from collecting fees specifically to fund the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Energy Efficiency Program. It directly affects state governments that currently use charges to support this regional climate initiative, which operates across several northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. The legislation removes the authority for states to impose these particular charges, effectively cutting off a funding source for the program. The bill does not address other ways the program might be funded or alter the program's overall goals, focusing solely on prohibiting state-imposed charges for this specific purpose.
H.J.Res. 24, enacted May 9, 2025, disapproves a Department of Energy (DOE) rule establishing energy efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. This resolution, passed under the Congressional Review Act, blocks the rule (published December 23, 2024) from taking effect, meaning the DOE’s proposed standards will have no legal force. The action directly affects commercial food equipment manufacturers and businesses using such cooling systems by preventing the implementation of new energy conservation requirements.
This bill (SJRES 44) seeks to block a Department of Energy rule that set new energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. It directly affects businesses that manufacture, sell, or operate these commercial refrigeration units, which would have been required to meet the new standards. The resolution uses a specific legal process (under Chapter 8 of Title 5 U.S. Code) to formally disapprove the rule, meaning it would prevent the rule from taking effect. The rule in question was published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2025 (90 Fed. Reg. 7464). If passed, the rule would have no force or effect.
Don’t Mess With My Home Appliances Act This bill modifies the process by which the Department of Energy (DOE) issues or revises energy conservation standards for consumer products such as household appliances, including by requiring DOE to consider additional factors related to the cost and availability of such products. First, the bill allows DOE to amend an energy conservation standard for a consumer product when needed rather than by a deadline. The bill also allows DOE to grant a petition to revoke or amend energy conservation standards if the standards (1) result in additional costs to consumers, (2) do not result in significant conservation of energy or water, (3) are not technologically feasible, and (4) result in a product (e.g., gas stoves) not being commercially available in the United States to all consumers. Additionally, the bill modifies the criteria used to prescribe new or amended energy conservation standards, including by establishing new criteria for determining whether a standard is economically justified. The bill establishes disclosure requirements for DOE meetings with entities that have (1) ties to China or the Chinese Communist Party; (2) produced studies regarding, or advocated for, regulations or policy to limit, restrict, or ban the use of any type of energy; and (3) applied for or received federal funds. The bill also prohibits DOE from prescribing new or revised energy conservation standards for distribution transformers. Finally, the bill allows DOE to prescribe certain new or amended energy and water conservation standards for clothes washers and dishwashers.
The LIT Act of 2025 repeals three existing Department of Energy energy efficiency rules for general service lamps (common incandescent light bulbs). It directly affects manufacturers and retailers of traditional incandescent bulbs by removing regulatory requirements they previously had to meet. Key mechanisms include amending the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to eliminate specific references to incandescent standards and formally terminating three finalized rules (from 2022 and 2024) that established minimum efficiency levels. This bill makes no new efficiency requirements for these bulbs but removes the existing ones.
This bill repeals federal energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing that were set to take effect in 2022. It specifically nullifies a Department of Energy rule published in May 2022, removing requirements for energy conservation in manufactured homes. The change directly affects manufacturers and buyers of manufactured housing by eliminating these new efficiency mandates. The bill does not establish new standards but removes existing ones from the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
