Sponsors (6)
The bill gives parties in DOI adjudications stronger and earlier access to independent de novo federal-court review, at the cost of higher litigation expenses, longer timelines, heavier federal-court caseloads, and potential erosion of specialized agency decisionmaking and policy consistency.
Parties to Department of the Interior (DOI) adjudications (covered parties) can remove their cases to federal court for de novo judicial review, giving independent oversight that can correct legal or factual errors in agency decisions.
Covered parties gain a clear, time‑limited (60‑day) window to seek removal to federal court, creating predictable opportunity to pursue judicial review soon after proceedings begin.
Parties (including individuals and small-business owners) may face higher legal costs and longer waits because moving cases into federal court typically increases litigation expenses and delays final resolution.
U.S. district courts and taxpayers could incur added burdens as removal increases federal caseloads and risks lengthening court backlogs, slowing access to remedies for other litigants.
Shifting review from specialized DOI adjudicators to generalist federal courts may weaken agency expertise and produce less consistent application of Interior policies, affecting the Department of the Interior and state governments.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Gives certain parties in Department of the Interior adjudications a 60-day right to remove their cases to federal district court for de novo review.
Allows parties in certain Department of the Interior administrative adjudications to remove their cases to a federal district court within 60 days and requires the district court to hear the case anew (de novo). It applies to proceedings decided in the Departmental Cases Hearings Division and the Interior Board of Land Appeals and covers parties who sought DOI approval to engage in regulated activity or who are challenging DOI-imposed sanctions or civil penalties.
Official title: Expedite resolution of certain administrative proceedings at the Department of the Interior, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 15, 2026 by Mike Lee · Last progress June 15, 2026