To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety in pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Graves (for himself, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Webster …
Primary Purpose
Reauthorizes and modernizes federal pipeline safety programs for fiscal years 2026-2029, expanding oversight to carbon dioxide pipelines, increasing appropriations, enhancing workforce development, and establishing new grants for municipal natural gas infrastructure safety improvements.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Comprehensive reauthorization of pipeline safety programs with expanded scope to include carbon dioxide pipelines in anticipation of carbon capture infrastructure growth, increased funding and workforce, streamlined regulatory processes, and enhanced safety information sharing."
Likely Beneficiaries
- Pipeline operators (gas, hazardous liquid, and now CO2) - streamlined permitting, voluntary information sharing protections, clearer regulations
- Municipal and community-owned natural gas utilities - new M grant program for infrastructure upgrades
- Rural and economically distressed communities - prioritized for infrastructure grants
- Carbon capture and sequestration industry - new regulatory framework for CO2 pipelines
- LNG facility operators - improved regulatory coordination and reduced duplicative oversight
- Small and mid-sized academic institutions - 100% federal funding for pipeline safety research
- State pipeline safety programs - increased grant funding
- PHMSA - increased staffing authority and funding
Likely Burden Bearers
- Federal taxpayers - M in new appropriations for FY 2026-2029 plus M for municipal grants
- Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund - draws for hazardous liquid pipeline oversight
- Pipeline operators - higher civil penalties (.412M max vs M), new reporting requirements
- Excavation contractors - stricter one-call notification and compliance requirements
- Persons who damage pipelines - new criminal penalties up to 10 years imprisonment
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Transportation
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- "the_comptroller_general"
- → Comptroller General of the United States
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Has the meaning given such term in section 60101(a) of title 49, United States Code
Liquefied natural gas
Relating to Indian Tribes, as such term is defined in section 102 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5130)
The process by which all information that is likely to establish the identity of the specific persons, organizations, or entities submitting reports, data, or other information is removed
A product stream consisting of more than 50 percent carbon dioxide molecules in any state of matter except solid
The movement of carbon dioxide or the storage of carbon dioxide incidental to the movement of carbon dioxide by pipeline, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce
Any pipeline safety data or information, regardless of form or format, that a company does not disclose, disseminate, or make available to the public or that is not otherwise in the public domain
A pipeline, a right of way, a facility, a building, or equipment used, or intended to be used, in transporting carbon dioxide or treating carbon dioxide during the transportation of such carbon dioxide
A carbon dioxide pipeline facility used to transport carbon dioxide in interstate or foreign commerce
A carbon dioxide pipeline facility that is not an interstate carbon dioxide facility
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology