FEAT Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4787
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T14:21:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation, titled the Free to Exit Administrative Tribunals Act (FEAT Act), aims to allow certain parties involved in administrative proceedings at the Department of the Interior to transfer those cases to federal district courts for resolution, rather than proceeding solely through the Department's internal hearing processes.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- A "covered action" refers to proceedings handled by the Departmental Cases Hearings Division or the Interior Board of Land Appeals within the Office of Hearings and Appeals.
- A "covered party" includes individuals or entities that either started the proceeding to obtain required Department approval or are seeking relief from a sanction or civil penalty imposed by the Department.
- The "Department" means the Department of the Interior.
- Right of Removal: A covered party may transfer a covered action to a U.S. district court with proper jurisdiction. This must occur within 60 days of the action's initiation at the Department, following procedures in existing federal law (28 U.S.C. § 1446).
- Review Standard: Once removed, the district court reviews the matter de novo, meaning it considers the case anew without deference to prior agency findings.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces a new statutory right for parties to exit specific Department of the Interior administrative proceedings and move them directly to federal court. This alters the typical administrative adjudication path by permitting removal similar to civil case transfers, with a requirement for independent judicial review.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior may see reduced caseloads in its hearing divisions, potentially speeding up some resolutions but shifting work to federal courts.
- Citizens: Affected parties gain an option to seek court review earlier, which could provide a different forum for disputes involving approvals, sanctions, or penalties.
- International Relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Parties initiating or defending against Department of the Interior proceedings (such as those seeking permits or challenging penalties).
- The Department of the Interior and its Office of Hearings and Appeals.
- U.S. district courts handling the removed cases.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The provision applies an existing removal statute to administrative matters and mandates de novo review, which changes how agency decisions are scrutinized in court. This could affect the balance between administrative efficiency and judicial oversight in Interior Department cases.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2026-06-15: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Free to Exit Administrative Tribunals Act — issued 2026-06-15 — PDF (2 pages)