Sponsors
The bill reduces federal regulatory burdens and compliance costs for businesses and EPA by narrowing the statutory definition of regulated greenhouse gases, but increases health, climate, and long-term economic risks and shifts regulatory responsibility and costs to states, localities, and communities.
Businesses — especially utilities, energy companies, and small businesses — will face fewer federal regulatory requirements for CO2, CH4, and N2O because the statutory definition of covered greenhouse gases is narrowed.
The EPA and regulated firms will likely see reduced permitting and compliance costs because the agency's scope to regulate these greenhouse gases under that statutory term is limited.
Urban and rural communities could face higher local air pollution and worsened climate-related harms if CO2, CH4, and N2O become harder for EPA to regulate.
Taxpayers and homeowners could incur larger long-term economic costs (e.g., property damage, increased health care costs) from reduced federal control of major greenhouse gases and resulting climate impacts.
States, localities, and regulated entities may need to create their own regulations to control these gases, shifting costs, administrative burden, and regulatory complexity to subnational governments and businesses.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Removes CO2, CH4, and N2O from the statutory definition in 42 U.S.C. §7602(g), excluding those greenhouse gases from that defined term.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Robert F. Onder · Last progress February 12, 2026
Excludes carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide from the statutory definition in 42 U.S.C. §7602(g) (the Clean Air Act definition at issue). The change narrows the scope of the statutory term by explicitly removing those three greenhouse gases from that defined term, without creating new programs, funding, or deadlines. By narrowing that definition, the amendment could limit the EPA's ability to use parts of the Clean Air Act that reference that defined term to regulate those gases, affect permitting and emissions standards, and invite legal challenges about how other Clean Air Act provisions apply to greenhouse gases. No appropriation or implementation details are included.