PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Passed Senate
Summary
Pipeline safety modernization that would update PHMSA programs, tighten oversight and enforcement, and create a confidential industry information‑sharing system to reduce leaks and accidents. The bill would also fund studies and new standards for hydrogen and carbon dioxide pipelines and set deadlines for many safety rulemakings and reports.
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- Communities and emergency responders would get more public information and coordination. The bill would require annual public leak summaries, create an Office of Public Engagement, and push for coordinated public alerts and clearer emergency responder information for CO2 releases.
- Pipeline operators and industry would gain a confidential Voluntary Information‑Sharing System exempt from FOIA and limited in discovery to encourage data sharing. The bill would require a composite materials safety assessment within 1 year and could authorize regulations if safe. VIS funding is authorized up to $5 million per year for FY2026–2030.
- States, Tribes, and local utilities would see updated damage‑prevention rules, an integrated inspection framework to avoid gaps longer than five years, expanded Tribal roles, and new grants for municipally owned gas distribution pipeline modernization.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
21 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 0 costs, 9 mixed.
More pipeline safety funding, one cut
If enacted, the bill would raise authorized funding for PHMSA gas and hazardous liquid safety programs for FY2026–FY2030. For example, FY2026 would be $185,000,000. FY2029 would be $201,556,000, including $9,000,000 for section 12 work and $90,700,000 for grants. FY2030 would be $207,412,000, including $9,000,000 for section 12 and $93,340,000 for grants. It would also raise Damage Prevention Program funding to $3,000,000 each year for FY2026–FY2030. One line would be reduced: section 12(f) pipeline integrity funds would drop from $3,000,000 to $2,500,000 per year for FY2026–FY2030.
Stronger rights and fairer testing for pipeline workers
If enacted, pipeline workers would get stronger whistleblower protections. Officers, employees, and agents of covered operators would be protected. Awards could include interest on back pay and compensation for special damages, effective upon enactment. Within 2 years, the Department would update rules to exempt a covered employee from post-accident drug or alcohol testing when the work happened outside the test detection window under 49 C.F.R. §§199.105(b) or 199.225(a).
Better pipeline risk and incident reviews
PHMSA would study geological hazards and report in 2 years, then review and possibly update rules within 1 year after that. The agency would review how it calculates potential impact radius for gas transmission within 3 years and report to Congress in 180 days. Starting within 1 year, accident reports would note any damage outside the calculated impact area. The Secretary would review the “confirmed discovery” reporting rule within 2 years and analyze 5 years of notices. The Secretary would also review weather effects on gas pipelines within 1 year and check at‑risk systems’ DIMP plans within 90 days after that report.
Grants for gas safety and communities
Publicly owned, non‑profit gas utilities would be able to get grants for repairs and equipment. Grants would cover up to 50% of project cost, or up to 80% in areas with under 50,000 people. The utility grant program would be authorized at $75 million per year for FY2027–FY2030, with a 12.5% cap per recipient and a 2% admin cap. Community pipeline information grants would rise to $2.0M in FY2026, $2.75M in FY2027, $3.0M in FY2028, $3.25M in FY2029, and $4.0M in FY2030. Emergency Response Grants would be set at $10 million per year for FY2026–FY2030.
More accurate national pipeline maps
GAO would review the national pipeline mapping system within 1 year. PHMSA would start a rule within 2 years to require location accuracy within 50 feet of the facility.
More public access to safety info
PHMSA would create an Office of Public Engagement within 1 year to help communities and answer questions. Each June 1, PHMSA would post an online summary of the past year’s inspections and enforcement. The government would post pipeline leak summaries within 1 year and update them yearly. PHMSA would have to cite the specific law for any redactions and make the full text of proposed standards free to read during comment. PHMSA would brief Congress on missed deadlines, and travel for top officials could be limited if key website updates are over 90 days late. Tribes would be included more often in planning, mapping, grants, and reviews.
Tougher call-before-you-dig state rules
States would need to include, or make real progress toward, key call-before-you-dig practices. Examples include white-lining, a positive response before digging, limits on the size and life of locate tickets, clear tolerance zones, emergency excavation notice, marking sewer laterals, and making new underground lines locatable. States would have to report excavation damage events to one-call centers and enforce their laws. The Secretary would judge programs on enforcement and reporting, with reviews at least every 5 years.
Narrower rules and delayed MAOP checks
Some lines would no longer count as “transporting gas,” including rural gathering outside areas the Secretary marks nonrural, and in‑plant piping or transfer lines under 1 mile offsite. The Secretary would pause new MAOP reconfirmation demands until a working group reports in 180 days and any needed rulemaking finishes within 1 year after that. Operators with documented, adequate past pressure tests could avoid reconfirmation. Any rulemaking could not delay existing compliance dates.
Confidential pipeline safety data sharing
The bill would create a voluntary, confidential pipeline safety data‑sharing system within 1 year. A governing board would be set up in 180 days. Up to $5 million per year could fund it for FY2026–FY2030. Nonpublic data submitted to the system would not be discoverable in court, except for five narrow exceptions (like criminal evidence or data required elsewhere).
New rules for hydrogen and CO2
A National Lab and GAO would study hydrogen‑natural gas blending, including blends above 5%. Not later than 1 year after both studies, the Secretary would decide if new rules are needed. Operators would have to report any intentionally blended, non‑predominant product that exceeds 2% by volume each year. A final CO2 pipeline safety rule would be due within 2 years and would add dispersion modeling, ban CO2 for spike testing, and require sharing emergency information with responders. The Secretary would also study adding an odor to CO2 and report in 2 years.
Faster approval of safer pipeline tech
PHMSA would request proposals within 2 years, and every 5 years after, to allow alternative technologies that meet safety goals. The public would be able to comment, and PHMSA could start rules to allow approved tech. PHMSA would study composite materials within 1 year and report to Congress. If composites are found as safe, PHMSA would issue rules within 1 year to allow their use for new fuels.
Flexible inspections with safety backstops
Operators would be allowed to use drones and satellites for right‑of‑way surface inspections. PHMSA could permit alternative vegetation practices if safety and fast emergency response are maintained; an Inspector General review would start 5 years after enactment. PHMSA would also allow risk‑based breakout tank inspections if safety is maintained. Tanks inspected less often would still need routine visual checks and secondary containment.
Older pipes, valves, and idle lines
PHMSA would study fire shutoff valves and similar tech within 2 years and could set risk‑based installation rules after the study. Gas distribution operators would have 3 years to assess and report miles of Aldyl‑A plastic pipe; no excavation would be required. States and operators would need to consider historic plastics with known safety issues. Within 90 days, PHMSA would clarify how safety rules apply to idled gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.
Quicker pipeline safety testing programs
Testing programs would run for 5 years after enactment instead of 3. The Secretary could waive some standards to support testing and would not force applicants into the regular nonemergency waiver process. Setting up a testing program would not trigger a NEPA major action review. The Secretary would stop a testing program at once if it conflicts with the law and notify operators within 10 days.
Faster alerts and penalty credit
The Secretary and FEMA would issue voluntary guidance to help operators use public alert systems during an emergency. If an operator adopts those steps, they would add them to their emergency plan. Penalties would weigh quick notification, including reports within 10 minutes, and strong coordination that triggers public alerts.
Faster waivers and fair hearings
PHMSA would decide nonemergency waiver requests within 180 days or explain the delay every 180 days. Waivers would include public comment, and final decisions with reasons would be posted online. Operators facing penalties over $1,000,000 for violations on or after enactment could ask for a formal hearing by an administrative law judge. PHMSA must update hearing rules within 1 year and post upcoming hearings.
Great Lakes leak detection center
Subject to funding, the Secretary would set up a National Center of Excellence for hazardous liquid leak detection in the Great Lakes Basin. An 18‑month report would come first with cost and resource needs. The center would study low‑volume leak detection and report results within 3 years. It would be jointly run with a nearby university.
PHMSA operations funding through 2030
The bill would authorize PHMSA operations funding of $33 million for FY2026, $34 million for FY2027, $35 million for FY2028, $36 million for FY2029, and $37 million for FY2030.
Transportation expert at safety peer reviews
The Transportation Department would have to send an expert in risk assessment or cost-benefit analysis to any peer review meeting on pipeline risk information. This would improve the quality of safety reviews.
No foreign-linked drones at PHMSA
PHMSA would be barred from using or buying certain drones tied to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, or Cuba, or on Commerce screening lists. Exemptions would apply for intelligence, testing, analysis, and training. Case‑by‑case waivers would be allowed if in the public interest. If funded, PHMSA would replace covered drones within 1 year and report costs and replacements in 180 days.
Operators must share plans and filings
If a pipeline operator files Chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy, it would have to notify the Secretary within 7 days. Within 2 years, distribution operators would provide the Secretary, State authorities, and affected Tribes a copy of their emergency plan, integrity plan, and operations manual. Updated copies would be due within 60 days after major changes. FOIA exemptions would still apply to protected information.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
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.
View on Congress.gov