PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Ted Cruz
In Committee
Summary
Reauthorizes and expands federal pipeline safety funding and rules through FY2026–FY2030. The bill would raise PHMSA program and grant authorizations while pushing updated safety standards, more public data, new technology studies, and stronger enforcement and tribal consultation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
20 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 10 mixed.
Studies on hydrogen, CO2, and new materials
If enacted, the bill would require multiple technical studies and rulemakings about new fuels and materials. PHMSA must assess composite materials within 1 year and, if equally safe, issue regulations within 180 days to allow their use. The agency would hire a National Lab and direct GAO studies on blending hydrogen into gas (including blends above 5%) and decide within one year after the studies whether rule updates are needed. The bill also requires CO2 pipeline safety rulemaking and CO2 odorant feasibility studies, a National Center research role on hazardous liquid leak detection, and studies on valve technologies for fire safety.
Voluntary pipeline data sharing system
If enacted, the bill would require PHMSA to set up a confidential, nonpunitive Voluntary Information‑Sharing system (VIS) within one year. VIS would have a 15‑member Governing Board within 180 days and use a third‑party data manager. Participation would be voluntary, operator data would be protected from public release except for limited exceptions, and the board would publish annual public reports and PHMSA would report to Congress each year.
More pipeline safety funding and grants
If enacted, the bill would increase federal funding for pipeline safety over FY2026–FY2030. It would authorize PHMSA operations funding ($33M in FY2026 rising to $37M in FY2030). It would create $75 million per year in grants for publicly owned gas utilities for FY2027–FY2030 and fund community pipeline information grants ($2.0M in FY2026 up to $4.0M in FY2030). The bill would also let the Secretary set up a National Center of Excellence for hazardous liquid leak detection (if Congress provides money) and require PHMSA to create an Office of Public Engagement within one year.
Updated tank inspections and plastics
If enacted, PHMSA would have one year to allow risk‑based inspections for some in‑service breakout tanks if safety is maintained. Tanks inspected less often would need routine external monitoring and secondary containment. The bill would add 'historic plastics with known safety issues' to State safety program risk lists so those materials get evaluated like cast iron or bare steel pipelines.
Faster waivers and testing rules
If enacted, PHMSA would have to grant or deny nonemergency waiver requests within 180 days or notify applicants and update them every 180 days until a decision. The Secretary could waive some standard compliance for approved testing programs, and testing programs may be ended immediately if they conflict with the law, with operators told within 10 days how to fix problems. The bill would pause MAOP reconfirmation requirements for operators who can show past testing meets safety standards until a working group and any needed rulemaking finish.
Better pipeline maps and leak reports
If enacted, the bill would require more accurate pipeline location data and public leak information. It would direct a government report in 1 year and start a rulemaking within 2 years to require facility locations be accurate to within 50 feet. PHMSA would have to publish summary leak data from operator annual reports within 1 year and at least annually thereafter. Owners who did Aldyl‑A assessments must report estimated Aldyl‑A mileage within 3 years, and operators must provide certain documents to authorities on set timelines. The agency would also have to cite the statute used when it redacts documents it produces.
New rules on data and standards
If enacted, nonpublic information submitted to the Voluntary Information‑Sharing (VIS) program would be confidential and exempt from FOIA, with narrow exceptions (for crimes and required regulatory reports). The bill would bar most VIS data from being used in civil discovery or enforcement. At the same time, PHMSA would have to publish industry standards it adopts or links to them for free and review standards at least every 5 years. DOT risk-review meetings must include technical staff, and technical committees would meet less often with added congressional notice.
Stronger damage prevention and records rules
If enacted, State one‑call damage‑prevention programs would have to adopt or make substantial progress toward a set of leading practices (for example, limits on ticket size and age, positive responses before digging, white‑lining, and tolerance zones). The bill also requires distribution operators to share emergency response, integrity, and procedural plans with PHMSA or certified State authorities and affected Tribes within set timelines, with updates after major changes.
Bigger fines, more hearing rights
If enacted, civil penalty maximums for pipeline violations would rise to $400,000 and $4,000,000. Operators facing penalties over $1,000,000 could request a formal hearing before an administrative law judge, and PHMSA must post upcoming hearings. The Department would consider very fast reporting (including reports within 10 minutes) when assessing fines. Employees who blow the whistle would get stronger protections and back pay with interest and possible compensatory awards.
New cybersecurity and hazard reviews
If enacted, the bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to publish a final pipeline cybersecurity rule within 180 days. It would also require PHMSA to publish a Geological Hazard Mitigation Report within 2 years and consider regulatory updates within one year after the report to address landslides, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and scouring that can move pipelines.
Stronger inspections and oversight
If enacted, States could run risk‑based integrated pipeline inspection programs under written agreements with DOT, subject to the same requirements as federal inspections and a rule that no pipeline go more than five years without inspection. The bill directs GAO and IG reviews, an annual public inspection summary, and requires the agency to brief Congress quickly if it misses statutory deadlines. It also requires reviews of how the Potential Impact Radius is set, confirmed‑discovery reporting, and how weather affects pipelines, with required reports and follow‑up reviews within set timeframes.
More pipeline safety funding and limits
If enacted, the bill would set new annual authorizations for the Gas & Hazardous Liquid program for FY2026–FY2030 (for example, $185 million in FY2026 up to $207.412 million in FY2030, with grant earmarks in later years). It would authorize $10 million per year for Emergency Response Grants and $3 million per year for Damage Prevention Programs for FY2026–FY2030. The law would lower a program minimum to $7 million per year and lower a pipeline integrity funding cap to $2.5 million for FY2026–FY2030. The Secretary may charge loan administrative fees to cover costs, with fees deposited in the Treasury.
Change to post‑accident testing rules
If enacted, PHMSA would update rules within two years, with HHS input, so a covered employee would be exempt from post‑accident drug or alcohol testing when their prior covered function was outside the time tests can detect use. The rule change must be done in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Regular review to allow alternative tech
If enacted, the agency would issue a request for proposals within two years and every five years after to identify alternative technologies that meet pipeline safety goals. The public could comment, and if the Secretary finds a commercially available technology provides equal or greater safety, PHMSA could begin rulemaking to allow it.
More Tribal notice and inclusion
If enacted, the bill would add Indian Tribes and Tribal officials into many PHMSA notices, consultations, and planning processes. Tribes would be named in definitions, included in technical committees and environmental coordination, and added to local notification rules. The bill would also clarify that an Indian Tribe can be treated as "adversely affected" for judicial review.
New guidance for local emergency alerts
If enacted, the bill would direct PHMSA and FEMA to make voluntary guidance to help pipeline operators and local officials use public alert systems (like mobile phone and TV alerts) for pipeline emergencies. Any procedures an operator sets under that guidance would need to be added to the operator's emergency response plan.
Tighter agency deadline oversight
If enacted, missing required agency updates or rule deadlines would be treated as 'outstanding mandates' and trigger extra oversight. PHMSA staff must give in‑person briefings every 30 days if a required website update is not made. If a statutory requirement is unmet for more than 90 days, travel funds for top PHMSA officials could be limited except for incident response.
Narrower rules for transporting gas
If enacted, the bill would narrow the definition of "transporting gas." It would exclude some rural gathering activities and certain short in‑plant transfer piping from pipeline transport rules. This would reduce regulatory coverage for those specific activities.
PHMSA drone purchases limited
If enacted, PHMSA would be barred from buying, operating, or contracting for certain unmanned aircraft systems tied to specified foreign countries or on export‑control lists. There are exceptions for intelligence, testing, and training. Subject to available appropriations, PHMSA would have to replace covered drones it owns within 1 year and report replacement costs to Congress within 180 days.
New right-of-way and idled pipeline rules
If enacted, the Secretary could allow voluntary alternative right‑of‑way maintenance that uses conservation practices if it meets the same level of safety and keeps timely emergency response. The bill would require the agency to allow using drones and satellites when it orders surface inspections, provided operators follow UAS laws. The Secretary must also issue rules within 90 days to clarify which safety requirements apply to idled pipelines.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ted Cruz
TX • R
Cosponsors
Maria Cantwell
WA • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Todd Young
IN • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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