119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 8247

Commonsense Review Act

Introduced

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

The Commonsense Review Act creates an interagency group to align how federal agencies use ‘categorical exclusions’ in environmental reviews. This group, comprised of officials from the Department of Energy, Interior, Energy Regulatory Commission, and Agriculture, will review existing exclusions and potentially establish new ones for projects like electric transmission and battery storage. The group’s goal is to streamline the environmental review process while ensuring it still protects the environment.

Key provisions

Establishes an interagency group to review categorical exclusions.
The group will consist of specific federal officials.
The group must review existing exclusions and potentially create new ones.
The group will focus on interstate electric transmission and battery energy storage projects.
The group will report to Congress on its findings and recommendations.
The group will dissolve after submitting its report.

Who is affected

Federal Agencies (Department of Energy, Interior, Energy Regulatory Commission, Agriculture)
Developers of electric transmission projects
Developers of battery energy storage projects
Environmental Review Process
Congress

Notable changes

This bill aims to standardize categorical exclusions across different federal agencies.
It establishes a formal process for reviewing and potentially modifying existing exclusions.

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

No arguments in favor have been submitted.

Submit yours

Arguments opposed

Reasons to oppose this legislation.

No arguments opposed have been submitted.

Submit yours

Legislative history

2026-04-13House

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

2026-04-13

Introduced in House

2026-04-13

Introduced in House

Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.

Apr 13, 2026XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 2d Session

H. R. 8247

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To establish an interagency group on categorical exclusions, and for other purposes.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Commonsense Review Act

2.Interagency group on categorical exclusions

(a)EstablishmentThere is established an interagency group that shall work toward interagency alignment on categorical exclusions.

(b)MembershipThe interagency group established by subsection (a) shall consist of—

(1)

the Secretary of Energy;

(2)

the Secretary of the Interior;

(3)

each member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

(4)

the Secretary of Agriculture.

(c)Chair

The Secretary of Energy shall serve as the chair of the interagency group established by subsection (a).

(d)DutiesNot later than 360 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each member of the interagency group established by subsection (a) shall—

(1)pursuant to section 109 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336c), adopt any categorical exclusion with respect to which—

(A)

the member identifies the categorical exclusion under paragraph (1) of such section as listed in the NEPA procedures of another member of such interagency group; and

(B)the member ensures the adoption of such categorical exclusion to a category of actions is appropriate through consultation under paragraph (2) of such section; and

(2)jointly with another member of such interagency group, establish a new categorical exclusion for any category of actions relating to the interstate transmission of electric energy or to a battery energy storage project that such members determine normally does not significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).

(e)ReportNot later than 360 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the interagency group established by subsection (a) shall submit to Congress a report on—

(1)any categorical exclusion that a member of the interagency group adopted or established pursuant to this section;

(2)if any member of the interagency group did not adopt or establish a categorical exclusion pursuant to this section, the reason why the member did not take such action; and

(3)

any recommendations to Congress on—

(A)

future areas for interagency collaboration on categorical exclusions; and

(B)

any need for a statutory categorical exclusion.

(f)SunsetThe interagency group established by subsection (a) shall dissolve after submission of the report under subsection (e).

HR 8247

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsor

Positions across the country

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Bill text

Positions across the country