Penalties for Polluters Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (3 Sep 2026): Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
What this bill does
H.R. 10255, the Penalties for Polluters Act, would raise the maximum civil penalties that can be assessed for violations under several federal laws governing oil, gas, and mineral leasing: the Mineral Leasing Act, the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Specific dollar caps in these statutes would be increased substantially, and several penalty amounts would be indexed annually to inflation using the Consumer Price Index. The bill also creates a new Penalty Revenue Reinvestment Fund to hold penalty revenue collected above the previous statutory maximums, with half directed to states, tribes, and local governments harmed by violations, and half to federal agencies (the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and Bureau of Land Management) for enforcement activities.
The bill primarily affects companies and individuals engaged in oil, gas, and mineral leasing and extraction on federal lands and the outer continental shelf, who would face higher financial penalties for violations of leasing terms, safety rules, or pollution-related requirements. It also affects the Department of the Interior, which would administer the higher penalties, the inflation adjustments, and the new fund, as well as states, tribes, and localities that could receive compensation from the fund if harmed by violations.
The bill was introduced on September 3, 2026, by Rep. Maxine Dexter and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It has not yet been considered by committee, and no further action has occurred.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
3 Sep 2026
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 10255 do?
- H.R. 10255, the Penalties for Polluters Act, would raise the maximum civil penalties that can be assessed for violations under several federal laws governing oil, gas, and mineral leasing: the Mineral Leasing Act, the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Specific dollar caps in these statutes would be increased substantially, and several penalty amounts would be indexed annually to inflation using the Consumer Price Index. The bill also creates a new Penalty Revenue Reinvestment Fund to hold penalty revenue collected above the previous statutory maximums, with half directed to states, tribes, and local governments harmed by violations, and half to federal agencies (the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and Bureau of Land Management) for enforcement activities. The bill primarily affects companies and individuals engaged in oil, gas, and mineral leasing and extraction on federal lands and the outer continental shelf, who would face higher financial penalties for violations of leasing terms, safety rules, or pollution-related requirements. It also affects the Department of the Interior, which would administer the higher penalties, the inflation adjustments, and the new fund, as well as states, tribes, and localities that could receive compensation from the fund if harmed by violations. The bill was introduced on September 3, 2026, by Rep. Maxine Dexter and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It has not yet been considered by committee, and no further action has occurred.
- Has H.R. 10255 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 10255. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 10255?
- H.R. 10255 was sponsored by Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), with 19 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 10255?
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (3 Sep 2026).
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