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Bill Summary · HCR 35

Overview

  • Type: Concurrent Resolution
  • Bill Number: HCR 35
  • Session: 136th General Assembly (Regular Session)
  • Jurisdiction: Ohio
  • Sponsor: Rep. Beth Lear (primary); cosponsors Rep. Hall, T., Johnson, King, Fischer, Mathews, A., Salvo, Thomas, D., Williams
  • Status: Reported by House Energy Committee (as of June 8, 2026)

Purpose and Intent

  • The resolution urges Congress to enact reforms to federal permitting and environmental review processes to accelerate deployment of modern energy infrastructure.
  • It frames federal permitting delays as a barrier to domestic energy production, national security, economic competitiveness, reliability, and consumer costs.
  • The measure emphasizes the goal of a faster, lower-cost, and more reliable energy system that supports a diverse mix of energy technologies while maintaining environmental safeguards.

Key Provisions and Demands

  • Call for reforms to major federal environmental and permitting laws, including NEPA, ESA, NHPA, CWA, and related procedures.
  • Encourage Congress to:
    • Expedite planning, permitting, and funding for energy infrastructure (linear infrastructure like pipelines and transmission lines; generation and storage facilities).
    • Implement faster timelines for environmental reviews and project approvals.
    • Reduce unnecessary litigation and overreliance on judicial processes that slow projects.
    • Limit inappropriate uses of the Clean Water Act and similar laws to hinder lawful energy infrastructure.
    • Improve accountability and data transparency for federal agencies conducting reviews, with more aggressive project timelines for NEPA analyses (EISs, EAs, and categorical exclusions).
    • Streamline federal regulations to support efficient construction of new energy infrastructure.
  • Support for regional and interregional electricity transmission planning and build-out to improve reliability and lower costs.
  • Endorsement of a domestic energy build-out that includes a full range of energy resources (traditional and emerging) to meet diverse energy demands.
  • Emphasis on reducing dependence on foreign sources for critical minerals and energy components by facilitating domestic projects.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Federal permitting and environmental review processes and agencies (e.g., those administering NEPA, ESA, NHPA, CWA).
  • Proponents of energy infrastructure projects (pipelines, transmission lines, generation/storage facilities) seeking faster approvals.
  • Courts and litigation processes related to energy projects (with a push to limit excessive delays from litigation).
  • The broader economy and energy sector in Ohio, including consumers, workers, and businesses, through potential changes in project timelines, costs, and reliability.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • This is a resolution directed to federal lawmakers, urging them to act; it does not itself enact new law or funding at the state level.
  • Calls for urgent action by Congress in the coming months to reform the permitting system.
  • The resolution acknowledges current delays (e.g., NEPA EIS processing times) and frames reform as necessary to prevent increased costs, reliability issues, and reduced energy independence.
  • Transmittal: The Clerk of the Ohio House is instructed to send authenticated copies to the President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the U.S. House, and Ohio’s Congressional delegation.

Potential Impact (Policy and Practical)

  • Signals Ohio’s support for federal permitting reform aimed at accelerating energy projects.
  • If federal reforms are enacted, expected effects could include:
    • Shorter project lead times for energy infrastructure.
    • Reduced project costs due to streamlined processes and decreased delay-related carrying costs.
    • Greater build-out of domestic energy capacity and grid modernization.
    • Increased consistency in environmental review timelines and improved project accountability.
  • The resolution underlines that reform should maintain environmental protections while avoiding unnecessary procedural barriers.

Notes

  • The bill notes concerns about overlitigation and regional / interregional transmission planning as areas to address in reform.
  • It expresses appreciation for Ohio’s delegation’s efforts to advance federal permitting reform.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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