Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7592
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-17: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-05T09:06:38Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, titled the "Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy Act of 2026," seeks to reduce regulatory burdens on the energy sector by requiring specific federal agencies to add automatic expiration dates (known as "sunsets") to certain energy-related rules. The goal is to force regular reviews of these rules, ensuring they remain justified and do not unnecessarily hinder energy production, while allowing extensions only under strict conditions.
Key Provisions
- Covered Agencies and Regulations:
- Applies to the Department of Energy (DOE), specific offices in the Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
- Targets "covered regulations," which are rules issued under key energy laws, such as the Atomic Energy Act, Energy Policy Acts, Federal Land Policy and Management Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, and others related to energy production, mining, and fuel use.
- Sunset Requirements:
- For existing regulations in effect on the date of enactment: Agencies must amend them within 90 days to expire within 1 year.
- For new regulations: They must expire within 5 years, unless the agency head waives this by determining the rule has a "net deregulatory effect" (meaning it reduces overall regulatory costs) and notifies the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
- Extensions of Sunsets:
- Agencies can extend a regulation's life by up to 5 years, but only after providing public comment opportunities (e.g., via a request for information on costs and benefits) and determining that extension is warranted based on those comments.
- Deregulatory amendments (those reducing burdens) can extend sunsets without full public review, but other amendments follow the standard process.
- Extensions can be repeated indefinitely, as long as each meets the requirements; seeking comments does not automatically delay expiration.
- Consequences of Expiration:
- If not extended, the regulation loses all effect, cannot be enforced, and must be removed from the Code of Federal Regulations (the official compilation of federal rules) as soon as possible.
- Other Clauses:
- Severability: If any part of the law is ruled unconstitutional, the rest remains in effect.
- Savings Provisions: Does not limit agencies' existing legal authorities and creates no new enforceable rights or benefits against the government.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces mandatory sunset dates for targeted energy regulations, which currently lack such automatic expirations; rules typically remain in place indefinitely unless repealed or amended.
- Requires "zero-based" reviews—agencies must justify reauthorizing regulations from scratch based on costs, benefits, and public input, rather than assuming continuation.
- Adds waiver options for deregulatory rules and streamlines extensions for burden-reducing changes, shifting from a presumption of permanence to one of periodic renewal.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative workload for reviewing, amending, and potentially removing thousands of regulations, but could streamline operations by eliminating outdated rules. Covered agencies may face resource strains during initial 90-day amendments and ongoing public comment periods.
- On Citizens and Businesses: Benefits energy producers (e.g., oil, gas, mining companies) by potentially lowering compliance costs and speeding up projects, which could lead to more jobs and affordable energy. However, it might reduce environmental or safety protections if rules expire without extension, affecting public health, communities near energy sites, and consumer safety.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but could boost U.S. energy exports (e.g., natural gas, oil) by easing domestic production regulations, potentially influencing global energy markets and relations with energy-importing allies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Energy Industry: Primary beneficiaries, including fossil fuel producers, miners, and utilities, who could see reduced barriers to operations on federal lands and offshore areas.
- Environmental and Consumer Groups: Likely opponents, as they may lose safeguards against pollution, mining impacts, or unsafe energy practices.
- Covered Federal Agencies: Directly burdened with implementation, reviews, and decisions on extensions.
- General Public and Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through changes in energy prices, job creation in energy sectors, and environmental quality.
- Congress and OMB: Involved in oversight, with OMB receiving notifications on waivers.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Could face challenges if seen as unlawfully limiting agencies' rulemaking authority under existing statutes (e.g., the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs how rules are made). The severability clause protects the law's core from partial invalidation, and savings provisions preserve broader agency powers.
- Constitutional: Raises questions about separation of powers, as it constrains executive branch discretion without directly violating Congress's authority to set regulatory frameworks; no clear First Amendment or due process issues, but public comment requirements align with procedural fairness.
- Political: Promotes a deregulatory agenda favoring energy independence, introduced by Republican lawmakers from energy-producing states (e.g., Texas). It could spark partisan divides, with supporters viewing it as pro-growth and critics as risky for safety and the environment; referral to Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources committees signals focus on bipartisan energy policy debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12]
Cosponsors (8)
Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-17: 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.
- 2026-02-17: 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.
- 2026-02-17: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-17 — PDF (9 pages)