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119-s-4340119th CongressWALLET

Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Federal shield for energy companies. The Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026 would block many climate-related civil lawsuits and void state and local energy penalties while declaring greenhouse gas regulation an exclusively federal responsibility.

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  • Energy producers and energy trade groups would be protected from a wide class of climate-related claims. The bill bars so-called "qualified liability actions" and would require dismissal of pending qualified liability suits.
  • State and local governments would lose the ability to enforce energy-penalty laws or to bring state tort or consumer-protection claims tied to interstate or global greenhouse gas emissions. Conflicting state laws would be voided under the bill's federal preemption.
  • Courts and plaintiffs would face tighter limits on climate litigation because the bill defines what counts as a climate suit, removes a private right of action for greenhouse-gas harms, and includes a severability clause to keep other provisions if parts are struck down.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Energy companies shielded from climate lawsuits

If enacted, this bill would bar people from filing or keeping ‘‘qualified liability actions’’ against persons engaged in the energy business in any State or Federal court. Courts would have to dismiss any such climate-related cases that are pending on the date of enactment. The bill would also declare State ‘‘energy penalty laws’’ void and stop private State lawsuits seeking payments for greenhouse-gas harms. The Act’s definitions would determine which lawsuits, companies, and laws are covered.

Only federal control of climate rules

If enacted, this bill would declare that regulation of greenhouse-gas emissions and climate change is exclusively a Federal authority. State and local rules that try to regulate greenhouse gases or impose climate-based penalties would be barred. The bill also includes a severability clause saying that if a court strikes one part, the rest of the Act would remain in place.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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