The Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026 prohibits state and local governments from suing energy companies for damages related to climate change or greenhouse gas emissions. This bill declares that regulating emissions is exclusively a federal responsibility and voids any state laws that hold energy businesses liable for alleged climate harms. Consequently, all pending lawsuits of this nature against energy producers must be dismissed immediately, preventing states from imposing retroactive penalties for past lawful operations. The legislation directly affects companies involved in the production, refinement, and sale of oil, gas, and coal by shielding them from civil liability in both state and federal courts.
This bill, known as the State Emissions Authority Act of 2026, modifies the Clean Air Act to reduce federal mandates on vehicle inspection and maintenance programs. It primarily affects state governments by removing requirements for them to maintain specific inspection schedules and by limiting the federal government's ability to credit states for emissions reductions achieved through these programs. Additionally, the legislation adjusts rules regarding how states must report their environmental plans and clarifies compliance standards for federal vehicles and installations. By striking several existing sections of the law, the bill effectively shifts more authority over vehicle inspection policies from the federal level to the states.
This bill, known as the Farm Equipment Safety Act, would remove certain agricultural machinery from federal emission standards under the Clean Air Act. It directly affects farmers and manufacturers of nonroad engines and vehicles used for farming purposes. The key provision adds a specific exemption to Section 213 of the Clean Air Act, allowing agricultural equipment to operate without meeting the emission limits that apply to other nonroad vehicles. The legislation does not change existing rules for other types of engines or vehicles, nor does it alter the overall structure of the Clean Air Act.
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.
HR 1345, the Gas Can Freedom Act of 2025, repeals two existing federal safety laws: the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2020 and the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act. This bill removes requirements that portable gasoline containers must include flame mitigation devices or child-resistant features. As a result, the Consumer Product Safety Commission can no longer enforce these specific safety standards for fuel containers. The bill directly affects manufacturers of portable fuel containers and consumers who purchase them, eliminating these regulatory requirements.
The Gas Can Freedom Act of 2025 repeals two existing federal safety laws: the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2020 and the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act. It removes current requirements for portable fuel containers to include flame mitigation devices or child-resistant features. The bill also prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission from creating new rules mandating these safety features in the future. This directly affects manufacturers of portable fuel containers and the CPSC, eliminating existing regulatory requirements and preventing new ones.
This bill streamlines approval for natural gas exports by creating an expedited process under the Natural Gas Act. It removes the requirement for formal approval orders when exporting to Canada or Mexico. Exports to nations under U.S. sanctions or designated by the President/Congress for national security reasons are excluded from the expedited process. The bill directly affects natural gas exporters seeking to expand international sales, primarily changing the application and approval procedures for foreign markets.
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 clarifies that retirement plan fiduciaries must prioritize financial factors - such as investment risk and return - when selecting investments or voting on shareholder matters. It prohibits using nonfinancial goals (like environmental or social objectives) to choose investments or votes unless financial factors are equal, requiring detailed documentation for such decisions. For shareholder voting, it allows plans to adopt "safe harbor" policies that limit voting to proposals with material economic impact (e.g., when a plan holds significant stakes in a company), while mandating records of all voting activity. The law applies to ERISA-covered retirement plans (like 401(k)s), taking effect for investment decisions one year after enactment and for shareholder voting starting January 1, 2026.
This bill amends the Natural Gas Act to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) exclusive authority to approve U.S. LNG export terminal projects, requiring FERC to deem such exports consistent with the public interest. It directly affects natural gas companies seeking to build or expand export facilities and streamlines FERC's review process by removing prior requirements for interagency coordination. The bill clarifies that FERC's decisions won't override existing sanctions laws, including restrictions on trade with countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism under current law. This change aims to accelerate domestic LNG export projects while maintaining legal safeguards for national security and foreign policy.
