Bill · S. 2427· Senate(119-S-2427)
Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 7/24/2025
- Last activity
- 7/24/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- James Risch
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy Act of 2025 requires certain agencies to implement expiration dates, known as sunset dates, on their regulations. These covered agencies include the Department of Energy and specific offices within the Department of the Interior, as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. For existing regulations, agency heads must ensure they expire within one year of the act's enactment. New regulations must expire within five years unless a waiver is granted. Agencies can extend these expiration dates through a process that includes public comment on costs and benefits. If a regulation's expiration date is not extended, the regulation ceases to have any effect and must be removed from the Code of Federal Regulations.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would business owners be better off under this?+5
Business owners in the energy and natural resources sectors benefit from a reduction in the long-term regulatory landscape.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+3
The act reduces the regulatory burden on businesses by requiring the sunsetting of existing and new energy-related regulations.
Would farmers be better off under this?+2
Farmers may benefit from reduced regulatory oversight related to land and energy use.
The opposite
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-6
The requirement to sunset existing regulations could lead to the loss of essential environmental safeguards and oversight.
Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced?-2
By sunsetting regulations, the act may reduce the regulatory hurdles that currently constrain or manage fossil fuel extraction and use.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Regulatory Oversight through Public Comment: Agency heads must provide an opportunity for public comment regarding the costs and benefits of a regulation before extending its expiration date (Section 3(b)(1)(B)(i)). This allows individuals and groups to voice their views on whether a regulation should continue.
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Streamlined Regulation via Waivers: Agency heads can exempt new regulations from the five-year expiration requirement if they determine the regulation has a net deregulatory effect (Section 3(a)(2)(B)).
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Efficiency in Deregulation: If an amendment to a regulation is determined to have a net deregulatory effect, the agency can extend the expiration date without the standard public comment requirements (Section 3(b)(2)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Loss of Existing Regulations: Existing regulations must be amended to expire within one year of the act's enactment (Section 3(a)(1)). If these are not extended, the regulations will cease to have any effect and will no longer be enforced (Section 3(c)).
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Short Lifespans for New Regulations: New regulations are subject to an expiration date of no more than five years after they become effective (Section 3(a)(2)(A)), which may require frequent renewals and extensions.
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Requirement for Periodic Extensions: To keep a regulation active, agency heads must undergo a process of determining if an extension is warranted based on public comments (Section 3(b)(1)(B)(ii)), which could create a cycle of constant re-evaluation for all covered regulations.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections-6Reduces Fossil Fuel Production-2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+5Good For Farmers+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- 7/24/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.