Republican lawmakers in Congress and at least five states are advancing legislation to shield fossil fuel companies from climate-related liability lawsuits.
The effort follows dozens of pending cases filed by cities, states, and individuals accusing major oil and gas firms-including ExxonMobil and Suncor-of deceiving the public about climate risks while profiting from fossil fuels.
At the federal level, Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) confirmed she is drafting legislation to preempt state and local climate liability actions-a move advocates call a bid for ‘Big Oil immunity.’
In Utah, HB 222-now awaiting the governor’s signature-bans civil or criminal liability for greenhouse gas emissions, with narrow exceptions. Oklahoma’s SB 1439 passed the Senate; Iowa’s SF 2427 and Louisiana’s “Energy Protection Act” advance similarly. Tennessee’s SB 2560 mirrors a model bill promoted by Consumers Defense.
Critics, including former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and the Center for Climate Integrity, call the push ‘un-American,’ arguing it denies injured citizens access to juries and undermines accountability.
“The day of reckoning is coming,” Inslee said. “Oil companies are shaking in their boots.”