Bill would lock in ANWR drilling permits and limit court review
Placed on the calendarS. 5438Latest action
Sponsor: Dan Sullivan · Senator · AK
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Alaska’s Right to Produce Act 2.0
119th Congress
Topics: Environment & energy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
The bill would permanently protect ANWR Coastal Plain drilling permits from cancellation or most legal challenges.
50-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The bill locks in existing government permits for oil and gas drilling in ANWR's Coastal Plain, barring the president or Interior Secretary from pausing leasing or canceling sold leases except for uncured violations. It also limits federal court review of legal challenges to one specific D.C. appeals court, sets rules for combining leases into drilling units, offers financial incentives for development, and permanently blocks a 2024 environmental rule for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
Who does it affect?
Oil and gas companies operating in Alaska's Coastal Plain, Alaska Native corporations and communities like the North Slope Borough and Native Village of Kaktovik, and environmental groups seeking to challenge drilling permits. The Department of the Interior, EPA, and other federal agencies would also be affected, along with the broader public through energy, revenue, and environmental impacts.
Why does it matter?
The bill would remove most legal and regulatory avenues to challenge or reverse ANWR drilling decisions, reducing oversight options for courts, agencies, and opponents of the program.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Based on the “Placed on Calendar Senate” text of Sep 22, 2026.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedSep 17, 2026
- Senate committee
- Senate voteYou are here · Sep 22, 2026
- House
- The president's desk
Right now: it was placed on the , and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 678.