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119-hr-6187119th CongressWALLET

Wojnovich Pipeline Safety Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Introduced

Summary

Modernize hazardous liquid pipeline safety and community protections. This bill would create a federal grant program to fund safety upgrades, require stronger public notices and testing, set emergency alert rules, impose large penalties for incidents, and direct penalties into a new trust fund to finance program activities.

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  • Families and homeowners: States in the program would have to require real estate contracts to disclose pipelines within one-half mile and operator incident history for the last 10 years. Operators would also need localized alert systems and clearer testing and contamination notifications for affected wells and properties.
  • Municipalities and community-owned utilities: Eligible non‑profit local utilities and municipalities could compete for grants. The bill would authorize $100 million per year for FY2026–2030 and would cap awards so no single recipient gets more than 12.5 percent of annual funds.
  • Operators and emergency responders: Operators face penalties of $2.5 million annually until remediation is certified and higher penalties for late declarations. The bill also authorizes prompt reimbursements to States and local responders for response costs.

*Would authorize $100 million annually for FY2026–2030 (about $500 million total) and create a Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Community Trust Fund to receive penalties and support program and response costs.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

More notices, testing, and alerts

If enacted, the bill would require States that want grant money to add real estate disclosures for properties within one-half mile of a hazardous liquid pipeline. Disclosures would include operator contact information, pipeline name and substance, repairs in the last 10 years, and leaks or incidents in the State in the last 10 years. Within 18 months the Secretary would have to require local emergency alert systems for communities within 1 mile and standard in-person water, soil, and air testing after leaks, with specific well‑sampling rules. PHMSA would have to post readable incident reports and remediation status updates at least every 90 days until cleanup is complete.

Reimbursements for local responders

If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary to make reimbursement funds available not later than 30 days after PHMSA receives an operator's declaration that a pipeline event occurred. State and local emergency response groups in the affected area could get money for damaged equipment, overtime pay, and other response costs. The Secretary could make payments retroactive for eligible costs incurred after the event or within 30 days of receiving funds.

New pipeline safety grant program

If enacted, the bill would create a Hazardous Liquid Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program run by PHMSA. The program would be authorized $100 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Municipalities in States that adopt the required real estate disclosures and community-owned non‑profit utilities would be eligible. Notices of funding would be published within 180 days of funds becoming available and awards made within 270 days. No single recipient could receive more than 12.5% of program funds. Up to 2% of each year's funds could pay administration and 0.5% would go to the DOT Inspector General for oversight.

Large penalties on pipeline operators

If enacted, the bill would allow the Secretary to levy a $2.5 million annual civil penalty on a pipeline operator that declares a leak, accident, incident, or failure until remediation is certified. If an operator fails to declare such an event within 15 days of knowing it occurred, the bill would allow a $5 million penalty. Penalties collected would be deposited into the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Community Trust Fund to pay for grants and reimbursements.

PHMSA outreach and reporting updates

If enacted, the bill would rename PHMSA's Community Liaison Services as an Office of Public Engagement and require community liaisons to help the public and attend safety meetings. The Administrator would also have to send a report to Congress within 180 days and quarterly after, and try to use findings to update rules and guidance.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

PA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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