The CERTAIN Act aims to expedite federal permitting and environmental reviews for infrastructure projects by imposing strict timelines on federal agencies. It limits an agency's ability to revoke existing project authorizations unless specific conditions are met, such as a court order or immediate harm. The bill mandates deadlines for agencies to process applications, determine completeness, and conduct environmental reviews, with routine authorizations automatically approved if agencies miss their deadlines.
This bill mandates the closure and defunding of the César E. Chávez National Monument in California. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to close the Monument to public access and prohibits any further federal funding for its operation. Within 90 days, the Monument's land and federal contents must be sold for fair market value. All remaining funds previously allocated to the Monument, along with the proceeds from its sale, would be transferred to support the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act. Additionally, the bill removes "César E. Chávez" from all federal references to the Monument and nullifies the original proclamation that established it.
This bill modifies tax rules to provide financial incentives for small oil and gas producers operating in marginal or low-production areas. It changes how the percentage depletion tax deduction is calculated, allowing a higher deduction rate based on oil prices and adjusting that rate annually using an inflation measure called the Producer Price Index. The legislation also removes certain income limits that restrict how much of this tax benefit producers can claim and doubles the minimum oil production threshold from 1,000 to 2,000 barrels to qualify for the deduction. These tax changes would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, primarily affecting independent oil and gas companies and rural communities dependent on these industries.
This bill, known as the Gas Tax Reduction Act, directs the federal government to withhold 8% of transportation funding from any state that raises its gasoline tax to $0.50 per gallon or higher. The affected states would receive reduced federal highway and transportation funds until they lower their gas tax below the specified threshold. The mechanism automatically triggers the withholding on the first day of each fiscal year following the tax increase, without requiring additional federal approval. This policy change directly impacts state budgets and transportation infrastructure projects by linking federal funding to state-level gas tax decisions.
This bill, the End Polluter Welfare for Enhanced Oil Recovery Act of 2026, removes tax incentives for enhanced oil recovery projects that use carbon dioxide as an injectant. It directly affects oil and gas companies and energy producers who build qualified facilities after the law is enacted. The legislation eliminates the tax credit for carbon capture and storage when the captured carbon dioxide is used to extract more oil from existing wells. Additionally, the bill repeals the federal enhanced oil recovery tax credit that previously allowed companies to deduct certain costs related to extracting additional oil from mature wells. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after the bill is enacted.
This bill abolishes the César E. Chávez National Monument in California and stops federal funding for its operation. It redirects any remaining unspent money from the monument to support DNA analysis backlog elimination efforts instead. The legislation directly affects the National Park Service by removing its authority to maintain the site and reallocates resources to a different federal program.
The NO TOD Act prohibits the use of federal transportation funding for transit-oriented development projects, which are commercial or residential developments located near public transit. This legislation removes eligibility for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program and eliminates certain planning initiatives that previously supported such developments. The changes apply to projects applying for funding after the bill is enacted, directly affecting developers, transit agencies, and local governments seeking federal assistance for mixed-use projects near transit stations.
The First Responders' Equipment Access Act directs the EPA to update its regulations to allow easier access to engines and equipment for first responders. This change affects federal, state, and local agencies that provide law enforcement, disaster relief, search and rescue, fire response, and emergency medical services. Under the new rules, these agencies can request exemptions from certain engine emission standards for national security purposes without needing to specify exact quantities. The Department of Homeland Security and other national defense agencies would be authorized to endorse these exemption requests. This legislation removes a bureaucratic hurdle that previously required detailed quantity specifications for such exemptions.
This bill would prohibit federal laws from requiring manufacturers to install emissions control devices or onboard diagnostic systems on diesel trucks and other motor vehicles. It removes the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to enforce existing emissions regulations and eliminates liability for anyone who manufactures, sells, or modifies vehicles without these devices. The legislation also repeals current federal regulations related to emissions controls and would erase criminal or civil penalties for past violations of these rules.
This bill, known as the Making Reviews Certain Act, modifies how federal agencies prepare environmental documents and how courts review those documents, primarily affecting projects related to energy infrastructure. It restricts the scope of environmental review to effects that have a direct causal relationship to the immediate project, rather than broader secondary impacts. The legislation also limits judicial challenges to energy infrastructure projects by requiring claims to be filed within 180 days and only allowing review from parties who submitted detailed comments during public periods or who will suffer direct harm. Additionally, it narrows when courts can overturn agency decisions, permitting vacatur only when there is a significant risk of substantial environmental harm and no other legal remedy exists. Finally, the bill clarifies that courts should defer to agency expertise when determining what environmental effects are reasonably foreseeable.
