Sponsors (6)
The bill trades faster, more predictable and transparent permitting that benefits businesses and project timelines against higher risks to public health, safety, environmental protections, and shifted compliance costs and resource strains for agencies and applicants.
Small businesses, developers, and permit applicants will get faster, more predictable permitting (self-certification, permitting-by-rule, and strict agency deadlines), cutting wait times and lowering compliance costs for projects and investments.
Businesses, local and state governments, and the public will have clearer guidance because agencies must inventory and publish permit processes and timelines, improving transparency and reducing uncertainty about requirements.
Permit applicants who face delay or wrongful denial gain stronger legal tools (judicial remedies and fee-shifting) to challenge agency inaction, which can speed relief and deter unreasonable permit denial or delay.
Communities, local governments, and the environment face greater health, safety, and environmental risk because faster or deemed approvals and narrower pre-approval review can allow permits to be granted without full scrutiny.
Environmental stakeholders and affected communities may lose procedural protections and meaningful public participation if permitting-by-rule is expanded or favored, weakening transparency and oversight for complex permits.
Small businesses and permit applicants face increased compliance and legal risk from self-certification and post-approval verification, which can lead to costly enforcement actions, fines, and litigation later.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires agencies to inventory permits, report feasibility of 'permit-by-rule,' set deadlines, create streamlined self-certification procedures, and allows fee recovery for certain delay lawsuits.
Introduced January 23, 2025 by Cynthia M. Lummis · Last progress January 23, 2025
Requires federal agencies to inventory every type of permit they issue, report details to Congress and the Comptroller General within 240 days, evaluate whether each permit could be converted to a streamlined "permit-by-rule" system, and then adopt permitting-by-rule procedures within 12 months after their report. It also creates a limited fee-shifting remedy allowing applicants who sue over unreasonable agency delay (filed after the report deadline and before the report is filed) to recover attorney fees if they prevail, and authorizes agencies to solicit public comment when preparing their reports.