HR 6503 United States House · 119th Congress

Broadband for Americans through Responsible Streamlining (BARS) Act

The BARS Act streamlines broadband infrastructure deployment by exempting certain projects from environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). It applies to projects like small cell installations on existing structures, modifications in public rights-of-way, and disaster recovery work, removing federal review hurdles for telecom companies. The bill also creates a presumption that tribes have waived concerns about projects if they fail to respond within 45 days to FCC forms (Form 620/621), unless tribes provide a "favorable demonstration" to override this. This directly affects telecom providers seeking faster approvals and Indian tribes regarding consultation processes for infrastructure projects.

Issues: ✗ Environment ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

President

Introduced Dec 9, 2025 Last action Dec 9, 2025

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Committee

Dec 9, 2025

Committee

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

lower

Dec 9, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors