FREEDOM Act
House Republicans' FREEDOM Act Would Set 90-Day Permit Deadlines, Fine Agencies for Energy Project Delays
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill, introduced by a group of lawmakers led by Mr. Harder of California, aims to speed up federal approvals for energy and mining projects. It sets a 90-day deadline for simple permits and a one-to-two-year limit for complex projects like power plants or mines. If agencies miss these deadlines, they could face legal action or fines.
- A new compensation program would be created within the Department of Energy. Energy companies would pay an annual fee to join, similar to insurance. If the government later cancels their permit or causes a project to fail through long delays, the company could receive money from a special fund to cover their lost investments.
- If a federal agency falls behind on its paperwork, the bill allows project owners to ask a court for permission to hire their own independent contractors to finish the environmental studies. The government would then have to pay for these contractors using money taken from the agency's own management budget.
- The policy limits the government's power to stop projects that are already mostly approved. Once a project has a substantial majority of its permits, federal officials generally cannot shut it down or cancel its authorizations unless there is an immediate, clear danger or a serious legal problem that has no other solution.
- For geothermal energy, the bill requires the government to hold lease sales every year instead of every two years. It also creates a new official called an Ombudsman to help solve disputes between companies and the government to keep renewable energy projects moving forward.
- On private land where the government owns less than half of the underground minerals, the bill removes the requirement for a federal drilling permit. Instead, companies would follow state rules, though they must still notify the federal government and pay any royalties they owe for the minerals they extract.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Federal agency staff responsible for permitting energy and mining projects would face strict new deadlines — 90 days for routine permits, 1-2 years for complex ones — with real consequences if they miss them. Courts could fine agencies up to $100,000 per day for noncompliance, and those fines would come directly from the agency's own management budget. If agencies fall behind, courts could authorize private contractors to take over the environmental review work, effectively bypassing agency staff.
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, and the Judiciary, 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.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
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House Republicans Advance 'One Big Beautiful Bill' With Narrow Support
The legislation creates a 'de-risking compensation program' within the Energy Dept. to protect project owners from federal actions leading to 'unrecoverable losses.' Owners pay an enrollment fee and annual premiums to receive payouts if projects are delayed or rendered unviable by the government.
Big Oil Wins in Trump-GOP Megabill
Critics argue the 'de-risking compensation program' allows oil companies to be paid by taxpayers if the federal government takes actions delaying their projects. The program requires a 5% enrollment fee and 1.5% annual premiums, which opponents call a 'giveaway' to the fossil fuel industry.
Rep. Josh Harder Introduces Bipartisan FREEDOM Act to Reform Energy Permitting
Representative Josh Harder announced the FREEDOM Act to simplify energy permitting. The bill expedites judicial review, enforces deadlines, and protects investments against revocations. It allows project sponsors to hire contractors for administrative work if agencies miss non-negotiable timelines.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
FREEDOM Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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