Environment: Utah Congressional Delegation

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 5, 2026

S 5262: Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2026

The Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2026 significantly narrows the federal definition of "navigable waters" by excluding wetlands without continuous surface connections, intermittent streams, and groundwater from federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The bill prohibits federal agencies from using aggregation methods or the "significant nexus test" to assert authority over these excluded water bodies and invalidates existing regulations that expand the definition of covered waters. Additionally, it requires federal agencies to obtain written consent before entering private property for data collection and mandates that they pay affected landowners double the value of any economic loss caused by new federal water regulations.

Topics ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics Public Lands Water Quality

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 6, 2026

S 5338: Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026

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.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 4, 2026

S 5235: Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026

The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026 amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to immediately prohibit the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos and products containing it in the United States. The bill defines commercial asbestos to include eight specific mineral varieties while excluding cases where asbestos is present only as a trace impurity or in materials already installed in buildings prior to the law's enactment. A significant exception allows existing chlor-alkali facilities to continue using asbestos for manufacturing diaphragms until 2032, with a potential extension to 2036 for companies that demonstrate progress in converting to alternative technologies. Additionally, the legislation permits the President to grant temporary exemptions for national security purposes if no feasible alternatives exist and requires strict exposure controls during any authorized transitional periods.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 5, 2026

SJRES 205: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Small Off-Road Engines Regulations; Notice of Decision".

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding pollution standards for small off-road engines in California. If passed, the measure would nullify the federal regulation, preventing it from taking legal effect. The bill directly impacts the EPA and manufacturers of small off-road equipment operating under California's environmental standards. It is a procedural action that relies on the Congressional Review Act to overturn an existing administrative decision.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 21, 2026

S 5045: Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2026

The Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2026 amends the Clean Air Act to officially recognize prescribed fires and cultural burning as "exceptional events," meaning air quality issues caused by these deliberate, managed burns will no longer be counted as violations of pollution standards. The bill requires the EPA to update its regulations within a year to clarify how these fires are defined and to streamline the process for states to petition for exemptions when wildfires or prescribed fires impact air quality. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new "Smoke Ready Communities" grant program that provides up to 90 percent federal funding to states, tribes, and local entities to help communities prepare for and mitigate wildfire smoke hazards in public buildings like schools.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Air Quality Forestry Natural Disasters

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 15, 2026

S 4975: HEATS Act

The HEATS Act modifies the Geothermal Steam Act to allow companies to drill for geothermal energy on private land without needing a separate federal permit, provided the federal government owns less than half of the underground resources and the operator holds a valid state permit. This change exempts such projects from certain federal environmental reviews, including those under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, while still requiring royalty payments to the government for electricity production. The legislation explicitly excludes projects on Indian lands and allows federal inspectors to verify production data and royalty payments to ensure accountability.

Topics ✓ Energy ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics Wildlife

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 16, 2026

S 5016: Clean Water Allotment Modernization Act of 2026

The Clean Water Allotment Modernization Act of 2026 updates how federal funding for water pollution control is distributed among states, Indian tribes, and U.S. territories. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency to set aside specific portions of funds for oversight and tribes before calculating state shares, while also introducing a new formula that allocates money based on watershed needs, population size, and poverty levels. The bill includes safeguards to prevent funding amounts for any single state from changing drastically from one year to the next and allows states to use a small percentage of their grants to conduct the necessary assessments for this new formula. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that these changes do not affect existing infrastructure funds and expands the allowable uses of capitalization grants to include technical assistance and survey activities.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Water Quality

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 13, 2026

S 4956: Farmers and Ranchers Relief Act of 2026

The Farmers and Ranchers Relief Act of 2026 aims to simplify the permitting process for landowners by changing how federal rules regarding the discharge of dredged or fill material are interpreted. Specifically, the bill directs regulators to broadly allow discharges that do not harm fish or wildlife while strictly limiting the ability to revoke permits later. By amending the Clean Water Act, the legislation seeks to reduce the number of required permits for agricultural and ranching activities involving earth-moving or water management. These changes are intended to provide more flexibility for farmers and ranchers without altering the underlying environmental protections of the law.

Topics ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics Water Quality Wildlife

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4887: Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act of 2026

The Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act of 2026 creates a competitive grant program to help organizations transport materials removed during wildfire risk reduction projects on National Forest System lands. Eligible recipients include for-profit companies, nonprofits, state and local governments, Indian Tribes, and universities, with funding available from fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Grants can cover costs for transporting wood and biomass, maintaining transport equipment, and workforce training, but cannot be used for construction or buying timber. The program prioritizes projects in high-risk wildfire areas and offers higher funding percentages to Indian Tribes compared to other applicants.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Forestry

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4931: End EPA Abuse Act of 2026

The End EPA Abuse Act of 2026 amends the Clean Air Act to place specific limits on the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to issue new regulations. It directly affects the EPA Administrator by prohibiting the creation of rules that restrict the sale or use of internal combustion engine vehicles, force power plants to switch fuel sources, or reduce the reliability of the electric grid. Additionally, the bill forbids regulations requiring technologies that are commercially unavailable, too expensive without subsidies, or technically infeasible due to geographic or infrastructure limitations. Finally, it bars the agency from issuing rules that significantly expand its authority beyond what Congress originally intended.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Technology ✗ Transportation

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Air Quality

All environment bills