The Unleashing American Pipelines Act restricts the ability of courts to review federal decisions approving natural gas pipeline projects. It limits legal challenges to the applicant or individuals who can prove they have suffered, or will imminently suffer, direct and irreparable economic harm from the approval. The bill requires that any such lawsuit be filed within 180 days of the decision and mandates that courts use a "clear and convincing evidence" standard rather than the typical "substantial evidence" test when evaluating agency actions. Additionally, it grants exclusive jurisdiction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for claims alleging that federal agencies acted beyond their legal authority in these approvals.
The Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026 mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency reinstate specific air quality and emissions regulations that were weakened or repealed in early 2025, including standards for power plants, vehicles, and oil and gas operations. The bill prohibits federal officials from delaying or suspending these rules without explicit congressional approval and requires the agency to base decisions on peer-reviewed science while restoring the use of a specific social cost of carbon value. Additionally, it directs the reinstatement of environmental justice programs, requires public health impact assessments for new regulations, and authorizes approximately $11 billion in annual funding to support enforcement efforts. The legislation also creates a private right of action, allowing individuals to sue the agency in federal court if it fails to comply with these requirements.
The State Energy Oversight Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program providing $50 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to help state utility commissions regulate electric and natural gas services. This funding allows states to hire specialized staff, improve data analysis capabilities, and support independent public advocates who represent residential and small business customers in rate cases. The bill also authorizes the creation of a national database of energy rates and requires states to submit annual reports on their use of funds and utility pricing structures. States that fail to meet these reporting requirements will have their future funding withheld and redistributed to other jurisdictions.
The Alaska's Right to Produce Act 2.0 mandates the continuation of oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain by invalidating any presidential or administrative moratoriums on these activities. The bill protects existing leases from cancellation unless a lessee violates terms, and it ratifies all environmental permits and biological opinions issued for the program to satisfy requirements under laws such as the Endangered Species Act. To streamline operations, the legislation restricts federal courts' ability to review agency actions related to leasing permits, while allowing lease holders to petition courts if agencies fail to act within 90 days. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish a unit agreement system for shared infrastructure and grants authority to waive or reduce rental fees and royalties to encourage development.
The Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026 requires the EPA to reinstate specific environmental regulations that were weakened or repealed after January 19, 2025, including standards for greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and vehicles, methane pollution from oil and gas operations, and hazardous air pollutants. The bill prohibits federal officials from delaying or weakening these rules without explicit congressional approval and mandates the restoration of scientific advisory bodies, peer-reviewed decision-making processes, and the use of a specific social cost of carbon value in regulatory calculations. Additionally, it directs the agency to restore environmental justice programs, prioritize enforcement in communities with disproportionate pollution burdens, and conduct public health impact assessments for new regulations. To ensure compliance, the legislation authorizes approximately $11 billion annually for EPA operations, requires annual reporting on enforcement activities, and grants individuals the right to sue the agency if it fails to meet these legal obligations.
The Empower Energy Exporting Communities Act creates a new trust fund within the U.S. Treasury to support local infrastructure and public services in areas affected by energy exports. The fund is financed by appropriating 3 percent of net revenues collected from major oil and gas companies under existing tax laws. Eligible recipients include counties, municipalities, parishes, or Tribal communities located within 50 miles of a major port used for exporting oil, gas, or related products. Funding distributed to each port region is capped based on that region's share of total nationwide energy exports, ensuring allocations reflect local export activity levels.
The 21st Century Strategic Petroleum Reserve Act requires the Secretary of Energy to request that the National Petroleum Council submit a report to Congress within one year. This report must analyze opportunities to modernize the physical infrastructure and operations of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to better handle supply shocks. Key areas for analysis include expanding geographic distribution, storing refined petroleum products, eliminating mandated sales, and increasing storage capacity and pipeline flow capability. The legislation also mandates an evaluation of the Life Extension II project and requires that the final report be made publicly available.
The Outer Continental Shelf Lease Restoration Act of 2026 allows companies holding adjacent offshore wind leases to acquire nearby areas where previous wind energy leases were surrendered, paying only the original minimum bid price per acre. The bill ratifies prior environmental reviews for these specific lease areas to streamline the transfer process, while requiring that any unclaimed land be re-offered for sale within 90 days under the same terms as before. Companies that originally surrendered their leases are barred from reacquiring those specific areas, and the Secretary of the Interior is prohibited from issuing new oil or gas permits until all wind lease transfers and re-sales are completed.
The Methane Pollution Accountability Act requires that royalties be paid on all natural gas extracted from federal lands and the outer Continental Shelf, including gas that is vented, flared, or lost through equipment failures during operations. This mandate applies to leases issued after the bill's enactment but includes exceptions for short-term emergency releases, gas used directly within the lease area, and unavoidable losses. Additionally, the legislation directs the Bureau of Land Management to enforce existing waste prevention rules and prohibits the agency from finalizing new regulations that would alter these standards unless they can demonstrate that the changes will further reduce gas waste or improve public health and air quality.
The Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026 directs the Department of Energy to remove specific quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year through 2036 and beyond, with targets increasing from 50,000 to 10 million metric tons annually. The bill defines eligible technologies as those that capture CO2 directly from the air or seawater and store it durably, while excluding methods like enhanced oil recovery or natural photosynthesis. To ensure accuracy, the law requires independent third parties to measure, monitor, and verify removals, with costs included in the price of removal, which must drop from $750 per ton in 2026 to $150 per ton by 2037. The Secretary of Energy must prioritize projects that create domestic jobs, source materials locally, and benefit communities historically dependent on fossil fuels, while reserving at least 20 percent of removals for smaller projects. Additionally, the act mandates regular reports to Congress on progress and authorizes funding to carry out these removal obligations.
