The Stop Climate Shakedown Act of 2026 was introduced this month by four Republican senators, including Representative Harriet Hageman of Wyoming and Ted Cruz of Texas. This is almost a direct response to the proliferation of local climate change lawsuits filed against the fossil fuel sector.
“Radical environmental groups have organized activities. A campaign to weaponize our justice system against American energy producersIncluding many people in Texas,” Cruz said in a statement. “They are using meritless lawsuits to bankrupt our nation’s energy industry, eliminate good-paying jobs, and raise the cost of electricity and gas for hardworking families. I am proud to lead this bill to stop that abuse to protect American jobs, lower energy costs, and protect America’s energy dominance.”
I wrote about some of these states’ climate bills last month. There are at least 30 lawsuits filed by state, county, city and tribal governments against oil and gas companies, according to tracking provided by the Center for Climate Health. Litigation can take many forms. Some have brought racketeering, antitrust, or fraud charges against companies. Some sought damages and financial compensation to support climate mitigation. Vermont and New York became the first two states to pass climate superfund laws aimed at recovering costs from fossil fuel producers and using those funds for climate adaptation projects.
A new House bill could stop such lawsuits in their tracks, force the dismissal of pending lawsuits against polluters, nullify Superfund laws, and block future efforts to hold the industry accountable. The bill is a big push by Republicans in Congress, many of whom represent major oil and gas states, with contributions from industry. Mr. Cruz received more than $1 million from the oil and gas industry for his 2024 campaign; Congressional top award winners from the fieldaccording to OpenSecrets.
The House bill follows efforts earlier this year to pass legislation in local legislatures protecting fossil fuel companies from state lawsuits. Utah’s bill is already in effect, and Tennessee’s bill is expected to go into effect this summer. At least three other states are considering legislation with similar language. a propublica As a result of the investigation, the state’s bill is drafted primarily by various political groups They were connected to Leonard Leo, a major donor to President Trump and a conservative activist. Lead conservative judicial reform.
The latest federal bill comes as three major climate change lawsuits are poised to move forward in Massachusetts, Honolulu and Boulder, Colorado. Honolulu is the most advanced after surviving the Trump administration’s policies. efforts to prevent it (A judge rejected those efforts earlier this month). But the Supreme Court threw a curveball in March, agreeing to hear an appeal by Sunko Energy Corp. and ExxonMobil Corp. challenging Boulder’s right to sue the companies in state court. Experts told me they see SCOTUS’ decision to hear this case as a bad sign for similar state cases going forward.
It’s unclear how the federal bill will affect other laws related to climate change. For example, the Hawaii House of Representatives introduced a bill this month that would allow the state and insurance companies to sue the fossil fuel industry for rising home insurance costs due to climate change disasters. The Hawaii Senate already approved the bill last year and is currently in session, awaiting agreement on final language.
