Bill · S. 5438· Senate(119-S-5438)
Alaska’s Right to Produce Act 2.0
- Introduced
- 9/17/2026
- Last activity
- 9/22/2026 — Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 678.
- Sponsored by
- Dan Sullivan
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Alaska's Right to Produce Act 2.0", approves and ratifies all federal permits, orders, and authorizations necessary to establish and run the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program. It stops the President or the Secretary of the Interior from placing any moratoriums, pauses, or cancellations on existing oil and gas leases in the Coastal Plain. The bill also prevents the government from enforcing a specific Bureau of Land Management rule regarding the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Additionally, it sets up rules for unit agreements, allows the Secretary to waive or reduce rental fees and royalties to encourage development, and limits court reviews of these leasing actions. Finally, it ensures that geological and geophysical exploration activities can take place in the Coastal Plain.
Yes· 3 of 9
Would business owners be better off under this?+4
Energy companies, leaseholders, and investors benefit from protections against lease cancellations and potential fee reductions.
Does this give the federal government more power?+4
Congress overrides various federal environmental laws and restricts judicial review to mandate the administration of the oil and gas leasing program.
Does this invest in rural communities?+3
The bill requires consultation with local Alaskan entities and the North Slope Borough regarding infrastructure coordination and surface resource usage.
The opposite· 3 of 5
Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced?-7
By ratifying permits, preventing lease cancellations, and incentivizing exploration, the bill actively expands and protects fossil fuel production.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-6
The legislation strips courts of jurisdiction to review environmental approvals for the leasing program and blocks protections established under specific Bureau of Land Management rules.
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?-6
The legislation overrides environmental reviews and mandates the execution of an oil and gas leasing program on public lands in the Coastal Plain.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Promotion of Oil and Gas Development and Reduced Costs for Leaseholders: Under Section 7(a)(1)(A), the Secretary of the Interior may waive, suspend, or reduce rental fees, minimum royalties, or overall royalties for leases on the Coastal Plain. This could benefit oil and gas operators and leaseholders by lowering their operating costs and helping them successfully develop leases that might otherwise be too expensive to run.
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Protection Against Lease Cancellations for Investors: Section 5(a) prohibits the President and the Secretary of the Interior from cancelling any lease issued under the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program after bids have been opened, unless the lessee breaks the rules and fails to fix the violation. This provides financial and operational security for companies and investors who have bid on these tracts.
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Involvement of Local Alaskan Communities: Section 6(b) requires the Secretary of the Interior to consult with the State of Alaska, applicable Regional Corporations, and the North Slope Borough when making public interest determinations for unit agreements and land usage to minimize impacts to surface resources and share infrastructure. This provision ensures that local and state entities have a voice in how regional development is coordinated.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Elimination of General Court Challenges for Environmental and Public Interest Groups: Under Section 5(b)(1), courts are stripped of jurisdiction to review actions taken by federal agencies, state agencies, or Indian Tribes that grant permits, biological opinions, or other approvals for the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program. This heavily restricts individuals, communities, and public interest groups from challenging these federal decisions in local courts if they believe environmental or procedural laws were broken.
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Blocking of Specific Conservation Protections: Section 8 explicitly prohibits the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management from finalizing, implementing, administering, or enforcing the specific Bureau of Land Management final rule titled "Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska" or any similar rule. Individuals and groups who favored the environmental protections and management guidelines outlined in that specific rule will see those protections blocked from taking effect.
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 Rural Development+3Reduces Gas Prices+2Reduces Fossil Fuel Production-7Improves Environmental Protections-6Improves Public Land Management-6Reduces Carbon Emissions-5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+4Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Native Americans+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Improves Economic Growth+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+4Increase States Rights+2Improves Due Process-6
- 9/22/2026
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 678.
- 9/17/2026
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- Introduced in Senate