Congress·Reported·H.R. 4776

House Committee Advances SPEED Act to Fast-Track Federal Permitting Reviews

SPEED Act

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

221–196

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Says the environmental review law is mainly about process, not guaranteeing any specific environmental result.
Lets federal agencies rely more on reviews done under other federal laws, or by states and tribes, instead of starting from scratch.
Sets tighter timelines for permit reviews, like 60 days to say if an application is complete and 30 days to issue a final decision after the review.
Limits what impacts agencies must study to effects closely tied to the project, and says agencies don’t have to wait for new studies that appear later.
Makes it harder and faster to sue over environmental reviews: shorter filing window, stricter rules on who can sue, and courts usually send fixes back without stopping projects.

Energy EnvironmentInfrastructure TransportationEconomy Finance

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

5 milestones38 actions

Dec 18, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Dec 18, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Dec 18, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 196 (Roll no. 356). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H6037-6040)

Dec 18, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 196 (Roll no. 356).

Dec 18, 2025House

On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 206 - 211 (Roll no. 355).

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

If the Senate passes and the bill is signed into law, new permitting deadlines and review procedures take effect

Federal agencies would need to respond to permit applications within 60 days, complete environmental reviews on tighter schedules, and limit their analysis to direct project effects. Projects already in the pipeline could move faster.

Courts begin applying new judicial review limits to NEPA lawsuits

People and groups challenging federal permits would face a 150-day filing deadline, stricter standing requirements, and courts would generally let projects continue even during legal disputes. Existing court orders would get a 180-day deadline for agencies to fix problems.

Vote Results

5 votes

HouseFailedAmendmentDec 18, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment to elect officers of the House.

205

220

Democrat

2 – 209 · 5

Republican

203 – 11 · 9

View full roll call

HouseFailedAmendmentDec 18, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 119-1 to strike carbon sequestration and ecosystem services prioritization from section 301 biochar demonstration projects.

208

214

Democrat

1 – 209 · 6

Republican

207 – 5 · 10

View full roll call

HouseFailedAmendmentDec 18, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 119-1 to allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve the removal of hazardous trees near power lines on federal land without requiring a timber sale, easing a serious threat that has in the past been a major cause of destructive wildfires.

204

217

Democrat

1 – 209 · 6

Republican

203 – 8 · 11

View full roll call