The Offshore Parity Act of 2026 grants the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama greater control over offshore resources by expanding their jurisdiction to three marine leagues in the Gulf of Mexico. Under this bill, the Secretary of the Interior would delegate authority to these states to manage oil, gas, and other energy activities on the newly included lands, provided the states demonstrate they have the resources and administrative capacity to do so. The legislation also allows these states to set their own rental rates and royalties for new leases while retaining federal oversight for endangered species and national security matters. Additionally, the act extends state management powers to fisheries in the same expanded area, enabling local oversight of fishing resources within these new boundaries.
The Fuel STAR Act of 2026 amends the Renewable Fuel Standard to limit the volume of non-advanced biofuel required each year to match projected domestic ethanol consumption. It extends the use of credits earned between 2020 and 2022 for compliance through five additional years, while prohibiting the use of electric vehicle credits. The bill also expands exemptions for small refineries by adding specific economic hardship criteria and requiring the EPA to automatically approve exemption requests if it fails to respond within 90 days. Furthermore, the legislation allows for the year-round sale of E15 fuel blends containing 10 to 15 percent ethanol by removing previous restrictions on Reid vapor pressure limitations.
The Fair Air Standards Act allows states to request that the Environmental Protection Agency reclassify certain air zones from "nonattainment" to "attainment" status. This change is permitted if the state proves that its air quality would have met national standards for ozone had pollution from outside the state not been a factor. The process requires the state governor to submit evidence and modeling data, after which the EPA has 180 days to review and approve the redesignation. By shifting the focus to external pollution sources, the bill aims to provide a clearer path for states to improve their air quality designations.
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.
The Accelerating Forest Management Act streamlines the environmental review process for salvage harvesting on Bureau of Land Management lands by categorically excluding certain actions from requiring an environmental assessment or impact statement. This change applies specifically to the removal of dead or dying trees caused by natural disturbances like fire or insects, provided the work stays within specific acreage limits and follows existing land use plans. The bill also permits the construction of limited new permanent roads, maintenance of existing roads, and the building of temporary roads for harvest operations, while mandating that operators disclose how they address environmental concerns such as erosion, soil compaction, and invasive species. Additionally, the legislation extends the funding period for the Forest Ecosystem Health and Recovery Fund from 2020 to 2033 to support these management efforts.
The Fireworks for Freedom Act aims to increase public participation in fireworks celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. It temporarily suspends certain federal and state regulations regarding event permits, licensing, and local safety codes like fire restrictions and noise limits for displays held during the year. However, the bill explicitly preserves local government authority to regulate specific aspects of displays, such as zoning, crowd management, and site-specific safety concerns, while maintaining federal laws on manufacturing, transportation, and product safety.
This bill proposes to reverse several tax incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy that were previously extended by a 2024 law. It would end the tax deduction for energy-efficient commercial buildings, shorten the expiration date for the energy-efficient home credit, and delay the deadline for constructing clean hydrogen facilities. Additionally, the legislation would remove limits on the amount of credits available for clean electricity production and change how the phase-out of these credits is triggered. These changes directly affect property owners, builders, and businesses that currently rely on these specific tax breaks to fund green projects.
This bill directs the EPA Administrator to allow the sale and use of gasoline with higher vapor pressure than usual during the summer months of 2026. The exemption applies specifically to the period between May 1 and September 15, 2026, permitting fuel that would normally be prohibited under current Clean Air Act regulations. By temporarily lifting these restrictions, the legislation aims to ensure a steady supply of gasoline during that specific timeframe without altering the long-term standards for fuel quality.
The JOAN Act streamlines the approval process for natural gas projects by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews and establishing strict deadlines for all involved federal and state agencies to complete their permitting steps. To speed up legal challenges, the bill creates a single, exclusive court process for lawsuits against these projects, which must be resolved within 180 days and limits the ability of courts to issue long-term injunctions or order new evidence gathering. Additionally, the legislation allows project sponsors to continue construction on unaffected parts of a project while legal disputes are ongoing and requires agencies to accept data gathered through remote surveys like aerial photography.
The Sanctuary City Elimination Act defines "sanctuary jurisdictions" as states or local areas that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities, such as refusing to share immigration data or honor detention requests. If a jurisdiction is classified as a sanctuary, the bill prohibits it from receiving various federal grants, including funding for education, environmental protection, economic development, and community housing projects. The legislation also provides a legal mechanism allowing state attorneys general to sue in federal court to recover these funds if a sanctuary jurisdiction releases an immigrant who subsequently commits a crime in another state. Additionally, the bill grants local law enforcement the authority to act as federal agents when complying with immigration detainers and offers them immunity from liability in lawsuits related to those actions.