Protect LNG Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Hunt
In Committee
Summary
This bill would protect LNG permits from being vacated during environmental lawsuits by directing courts to remand legal errors to agencies while approvals stay in effect. It would also centralize and speed judicial review for covered liquefied natural gas applications.
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- Developers and applicants would gain permit stability because a permit, license, or approval for a covered liquefied natural gas facility would remain valid while related environmental litigation proceeds. Agencies must keep processing all covered applications.
- Federal agencies would be required to accept remands when a court finds a review violated the law and to resolve the violation instead of having the approval set aside. That keeps approvals in force while agencies fix review problems.
- Courts and challengers would face a tighter, local review path. Challenges must go to the U.S. court of appeals in the circuit where the facility is or will be located, the appeals court must expedite the case, and claims generally must be filed within 90 days after the Federal Register notice announcing the final agency action.
- The bill preserves the ability of parties to bring claims that someone violated the terms of a permit, license, or approval.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
LNG permits stay valid during lawsuits
If a court finds an LNG project's environmental review broke the law, the court would not cancel the permit. It would have to send the case back to the agency to fix the issue. Lawsuits would not change the permit’s validity, and agencies would keep processing related applications.
Faster, limited court review for LNG
The bill would tighten where and when LNG permits can be challenged. Challengers would have 90 days after a Federal Register notice to file. Aside from the Supreme Court, cases would go to the court of appeals where the facility is or will be. That court would speed up the case and set it on the docket as soon as practicable. Existing petitions could be moved to that court if the applicant asks.
Defines which LNG projects are covered
The bill would define which LNG applications it covers. It would cover export approvals and approvals to site, build, expand, or run LNG facilities. A covered facility would need approval by the Energy Department and either FERC or the Maritime Administration.
Enforcement suits over permit violations preserved
The bill would not create a new right to appeal permits. But it would not block lawsuits claiming someone broke their permit terms. People could still file those enforcement cases.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hunt
TX • R
Cosponsors
Tiffany
WI • R
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]
TX • R
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]
TX • R
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 6/9/2025
Ellzey
TX • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]
TX • R
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4]
TX • R
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
TX • R
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
WA • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Crenshaw
TX • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
MS • R
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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