Energy Utility Lobbying Ban Act
Sponsored By: Representative Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Introduced
Summary
Ties 10% of federal State energy program grants to state bans on former utility regulators lobbying utilities. The bill would force states to adopt specific post-employment restrictions on former state regulatory authority officers and employees to keep federal energy program money flowing.
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- States: A state without the required lobbying restrictions would risk losing 10% of its annual State energy program financial assistance. Withheld funds would be returned the next fiscal year if the state fixes the problem.
- Former regulators and electric utilities: The bill bars former officers or employees from appearing before or advocating to their former state regulatory authority on matters they worked on, and it creates a separate 2-year cooling-off ban for matters pending in the year before they left.
- Department of Energy and compliance: The Secretary of Energy would review states within one year and annually, keep a public compliance database, offer technical help, set an appeals process, and must issue initial regulations within 9 months. States get a 90-day cure period before funding is withheld.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Energy grants tied to lobbying limits
This bill would let the Secretary of Energy withhold 10% of a State's annual State energy program grant unless the State has the required lobbying limits in place. The withholding would start in the first full fiscal year after enactment. A State would get 90 days to fix noncompliance before money is held back. If funds are withheld, the Secretary would give the withheld amount to the State in the following fiscal year if the State is then in compliance. The Secretary would review State laws within one year and every year after, publish a public compliance database, write rules within nine months, provide help to States, set up appeals, and report to Congress yearly.
Ban on former state utility regulators
This bill would bar former officers and employees of State utility regulators from appearing or advocating before their old regulator on matters they worked on. The ban would be permanent for matters the person participated in ‘‘personally and substantially’’ while employed. There would also be a two-year ban after leaving for matters that were actually pending within one year before termination if the person knew or reasonably should have known. States would need to enforce these bans, investigate complaints, impose penalties, and allow harmed parties to seek damages. States could meet the rule by passing laws, agency rules, or binding orders.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov