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The bill ensures regular, science-updating reviews of federal noise criteria to improve protections—especially for overburdened communities—but does so at the cost of added administrative burden and potential regulatory uncertainty for EPA, governments, and businesses.
State and local governments, and communities in urban areas will see EPA review and (if needed) update federal noise criteria within 2 years and at least every 10 years thereafter, keeping standards current with new science.
Communities with disproportionate noise burdens (including some rural and urban communities) will benefit from updated noise criteria that can incorporate newer evidence and mitigation approaches.
State and local governments and utilities will gain greater regulatory predictability and EPA accountability because the bill imposes a statutory schedule for periodic noise-criteria reviews.
EPA (federal employees) could face strain on staff and resources as mandated review timelines require work to meet statutory deadlines, potentially diverting attention from other environmental priorities.
Utilities, energy companies, and local governments may face regulatory uncertainty and planning challenges if frequent reviews lead to changes in noise criteria.
State and local governments could incur additional paperwork and compliance costs if the statutory review schedule prompts procedural updates even when no substantive changes are needed.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires an initial review of published noise criteria within 2 years and mandates reviews at least every 10 years thereafter, with revisions as needed.
Introduced December 23, 2025 by Robert Menendez · Last progress December 23, 2025
Requires the federal agency that issues noise criteria to review existing noise criteria within 2 years of enactment and at least once every 10 years after that, and to revise or supplement those criteria when necessary. Also renumbers an existing publication requirement in the underlying Noise Control Act statute.