H.J.Res. 24 · Where this bill is now
Became law
Public Law 119-7, May 9, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBlocks stricter energy rules for walk-in coolers
The Department of Energy created new rules that would make walk-in coolers and freezers more energy-efficient, starting in 2027 and 2028. This resolution cancels those rules, so walk-in coolers, freezers, and their doors no longer have to meet those stricter energy standards.
How it affects you
Businesses that operate walk-in coolers and freezers—like restaurants, grocery stores, and food storage facilities—won't have to upgrade their equipment to meet the new efficiency requirements. This means they can keep using their current equipment without making costly changes, though they may continue using more energy than the new standards would have required.
Read the official summary (Public Law, May 9, 2025)
This joint resolution eliminates new, more stringent energy conservation standards for certain walk-in coolers and freezers, including the new limits on maximum daily energy consumption for walk-in non-display doors. Under the joint resolution, walk-in non-display doors and walk-in refrigeration systems are no longer required to comply with the new standards.
Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers and submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) on December 23, 2024. Under the rule, DOE adopted energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that DOE determined was technologically feasible and economically justified. The rule required walk-in non-display doors to comply with those standards by December 23, 2027, and walk-in refrigeration systems to comply with them by December 31, 2028.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH.J.Res. 24
JOINT RESOLUTION
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers".
Sponsor: Rep. Stephanie I. Bice (R-OK-5) · Introduced Jan 16, 2025 · Energy · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 9, 2025: “Became Public Law No: 119-7.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Mar 27, 2025
Passage Passed 203–182
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 6 | 182 | 25 |
| Republicans | 197 | 0 | 20 |
6 members voted against most of their party: 6 Democrats voted Yes.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 4 official versions.