Environment

This bill requires oil and gas companies holding specific Gulf of Mexico leases to renegotiate their terms to pay royalties when oil or gas prices reach certain market thresholds. It directly affects companies with "covered leases" (existing leases issued between 1996-2000 for Central/Western Gulf tracts that currently avoid royalties at high prices). The key mechanism mandates renegotiation to include price-based royalty requirements equal to thresholds already in existing law, effective October 1, 2026. New leases or lease transfers in the Gulf are blocked unless these renegotiations are completed first.

HR 7473 (CMMSA 2.0) increases the tax credit for battery manufacturing from 10% to 25% for electrode materials used in battery production. It adds new requirements that battery components cannot contain critical minerals extracted, processed, or recycled after 2026 by foreign entities deemed a security threat. The bill also expands what qualifies as "electrode active materials" to include precursor materials (like lithium hydroxide) and solid state electrolytes. Finally, it extends the phaseout period for certain critical mineral credits until 2041, instead of 2030. This directly affects battery manufacturers seeking tax credits for domestic production.

HR 7326 (ABODE Act) creates a grant program to fund the development or rehabilitation of affordable housing. It directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants to organizations building or rehabbing single- and multi-family homes for households earning 50% or less of the area median income. Projects must prioritize reducing costs, improving energy efficiency, enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities, and using resilient designs. HUD will require grantees to build a set number of homes meeting these standards before receiving full payment, and must report results to Congress within two years.

The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to adopt three existing voluntary safety standards for lithium-ion batteries used in consumer products like e-bikes and personal electric mobility devices within 180 days of the bill's enactment. These standards, currently used by manufacturers, become mandatory for products defined as "consumer goods" under existing law. The bill also establishes a process for updating these standards if revised by the original organizations, giving the CPSC 90 days to decide whether to adopt changes. Additionally, the CPSC must submit a report to Congress within five years detailing battery-related fire or explosion incidents, including product models, compliance status, and manufacturer information.

Mining Regulatory Clarity Act This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining, such as waste disposal, regardless of whether those lands contain mineral deposits valuable enough to be mined (mineral validity). It also establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. The bill addresses a 2022 decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit related to the Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona (commonly known as the Rosemont decision , described further in CRS Report R48166 ). The court held that mining claims are only allowed where mineral validity has been established and that mill site claims are more appropriate means for establishing a mining waste disposal site under the Mining Act. The bill allows a mining operator to (1) locate and include within its plan of operations as many mill site claims (e.g., areas for waste rock disposal) as are reasonably necessary for its operations, and (2) use or occupy public land in accordance with an approved plan of operations. Additionally, the bill requires any revenue generated from fees for such mill site claims to be deposited into the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. The Department of the Interior must use the fund for certain abandoned hardrock mine reclamation activities.

HR 2323, the Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act, would expand Big Bend National Park by adding approximately 6,100 acres of land. The Secretary of the Interior may acquire this land through donation or exchange (not eminent domain), using a specific map dated November 2022. Once acquired, the land becomes part of the park and is managed under existing laws. The map must be publicly available for inspection at National Park Service offices.

This bill redesignates the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and establishes a separate Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve in Georgia. It allows voluntary land acquisition (via purchase, donation, or exchange) for both areas without eminent domain, and requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop a management plan prioritizing cultural resource preservation for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The bill mandates tribal consultation, provides hiring preferences for tribal members, and ensures protection of sacred sites. It also places 126 acres of tribal land into federal trust for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

The ARC Act of 2026 establishes a $3.6 billion federal program to provide cost certainty for advanced nuclear energy projects seeking loan guarantees under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It requires qualifying projects to submit detailed cost estimates, schedule risk analyses, and a project delivery plan to demonstrate on-time, on-budget construction. Borrowers cover cost overruns up to 120% of the base cost estimate, after which the program covers up to 30% of that base estimate (capped at $1.2 billion per project). This directly affects advanced nuclear reactor developers and project owners seeking federal loan guarantees, with strict oversight requirements including quarterly progress reviews and annual schedule updates.

HR 1923, the Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025, establishes training programs for wildfire professionals and improves retirement benefits for firefighters. It creates a National Smoke Monitoring and Alert System to protect public health during wildfire events and requires payment for wildfire recovery programs within 90 days of application approval. These provisions directly affect federal firefighters, wildfire response organizations, and communities in wildfire-prone areas. The bill also includes mechanisms for workforce development, casualty assistance, and data sharing to enhance wildfire management and public safety.

S 2901 creates a voluntary pilot program for states to link wildfire hazard alerts from the National Weather Service with local traffic management systems. This would automatically send real-time updates about road closures and evacuation routes to drivers during wildfires, using existing technology without requiring new systems or centralized infrastructure. The program, funded through current transportation research budgets, must be evaluated after two years and explicitly states the federal government cannot direct roadway closure decisions.