Fair and Transparent Gas Prices Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4352
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-04T22:11:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Fair and Transparent Gas Prices Act of 2026 (S. 4352) requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate potential anti-competitive or unfair practices by oil and gas companies that affect fuel prices and supply, aiming to promote fair, competitive, and transparent markets for consumers.
Key Provisions
- FTC Study: The FTC must conduct a study on anti-competitive, collusive, or other problematic conduct by oil and gas companies, including consumer fuel prices. The study, coordinated with state attorneys general where appropriate, analyzes:
- Whether companies use financial resources in ways that do not increase fuel supply (e.g., cutting production investments or conducting stock buybacks).
- If such conduct leads to higher consumer costs (including "price gouging"), delays in fuel production/delivery, reduced investments in supply, or limits on alternative fuels/vehicle technologies.
- Reporting Requirements: The FTC must submit a report with study results and recommendations for laws or actions to Congress within 1 year of enactment, and annually for the next 2 years. Reports go to specific Senate and House committees (e.g., Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Energy and Commerce).
- Exemptions and Resources:
- Exempts the study from the Paperwork Reduction Act (a law that limits government data collection burdens).
- Allows FTC to hire up to 50 additional staff without standard civil service hiring rules.
- Authorizes $15 million for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Builds on the FTC's existing authority under Section 6(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (which allows industry-wide investigations) by mandating a specific, ongoing study on oil and gas markets.
- Introduces new reporting obligations, funding, staffing flexibility, and a Paperwork Reduction Act exemption not previously applied to such FTC studies.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases FTC workload and resources; involves state attorneys general; requires congressional committees to review reports and potential recommendations.
- Citizens: Could lead to greater transparency on fuel pricing, identification of practices harming affordability, and future policies to lower costs or boost supply/competition.
- International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned, as focus is on domestic markets and companies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Oil and gas companies: Subject to FTC scrutiny of their financial and market practices.
- Consumers: Primary beneficiaries through potential insights into pricing and supply issues.
- FTC and state attorneys general: Gain authority, funding, and staffing to conduct the study.
- Congress: Receives reports and may act on recommendations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Expands FTC investigative scope without new enforcement powers; Paperwork Reduction Act exemption and non-civil service hiring enable faster, broader data collection, potentially raising due process questions for companies under review.
- Constitutional: Relies on Congress's commerce clause authority over interstate markets; no apparent free speech or other rights conflicts.
- Political: Provides oversight tool for energy sector pricing amid public concerns, with bipartisan committee involvement signaling potential for legislative follow-up.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-04-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Fair and Transparent Gas Prices Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-21 — PDF (4 pages)