Pipeline Safety Legislation: Status and Outlook

Overview

On April 29, 2026, the Senate approved a pipeline safety reauthorization bill, and two committees in the House of Representatives have voted to report their own versions of this legislation. Congress periodically reauthorizes and updates the federal pipeline safety law, providing the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) with mandates and direction for regulating the nation’s sprawling network of oil, refined product, natural gas, and other “hazardous” pipelines. Members and Senators will work to enact reauthorization legislation into law before the conclusion of the 119th Congress at the end of this year. If they are successful, a final bill will likely include a series of consensus, bipartisan provisions. The following describes the history of federal pipeline safety legislation, as well as the bills considered in the last year by Senate and House committees, and finally the legislative outlook. An upcoming Williams & Jensen report will provide an update on pipeline safety regulatory developments.

Pipeline Safety 08-24-2026.pdf

Download PDF • 226KB