A Republican bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The ePermit Act aims to modernize environmental reviews and authorizations using digital, cloud-based, and interactive platforms. It mandates the development of data standards to ensure Federal agencies can share information easily and reduce redundant reviews. The bill directs the creation of prototype tools and an authorization portal to track projects and public comments. Federal agencies will be required to implement these new standards and functional requirements within specific timeframes. Ultimately, the Act seeks to increase transparency, improve efficiency, and provide better data for project sponsors and the public.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill establishes a digital authorization portal to provide the public and Congress with real-time access to project timelines and status.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Project sponsors benefit from increased predictability and efficiency in the environmental review and authorization process.
- Scored +3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill identifies that modern business process management systems can reduce costs for Federal agencies.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency and Accessibility: Digital strategies are intended to make the community engagement process more accessible, available, and transparent to all stakeholders, particularly those in communities where new projects are built (Section 2, Finding 2).
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Improved Public Information Access: The bill provides that the public, project sponsors, and Federal agencies should have access to up-to-date, accurate information regarding project timelines and status (Section 2, Finding 9).
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Enhanced Public Comment Tracking: The development of prototype tools includes public comment opportunity tracking portals to increase transparency (Section 4, subsection 2, part B).
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Better Communication for Local Communities: The proposed authorization portal will include a mechanism to disseminate relevant information, such as public meetings or project statuses, to local communities (Section 7, subsection a, part 2, part iv).
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Streamlined Application Processes: The use of an interactive portal allows project sponsors to submit all necessary documentation in one unified and secure place (Section 7, subsection a, part 2, part v).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on Land Use: The bill explicitly states that automated project screening may not be used by the Council on Environmental Quality or a Federal agency to unlawfully restrict any activities on Federal lands (Section 5, subsection a, part 2, part B).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill establishes a digital authorization portal to provide the public and Congress with real-time access to project timelines and status. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill includes requirements for the new data systems to comply with the Privacy Act of 1974.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Project sponsors benefit from increased predictability and efficiency in the environmental review and authorization process. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes mechanisms to disseminate relevant project information to local communities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Enhanced transparency and digital tools allow local communities to better monitor project impacts and statuses.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill identifies that modern business process management systems can reduce costs for Federal agencies. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — By streamlining and expediting environmental reviews, the bill reduces regulatory delays for project sponsors.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The act expedites environmental reviews which are necessary for the construction and development of infrastructure projects. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill aims to improve document quality and objective evaluation of environmental impacts through better data and technology.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill mandates compliance with Federal risk and security standards for the new digital authorization portal.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill focuses on the digital modernization of data standards and the use of advanced technologies like AI for environmental analysis.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — Streamlining environmental reviews can indirectly assist in the more efficient deployment of infrastructure and housing-related projects.
- 7/29/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/5/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- Alan Armstrong
Republican · Oklahoma
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California