H.R. 4503 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Dec 9, 2025. Received Dec 10, 2025; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryMakes environmental reviews go digital
This bill requires the government to digitize the environmental review process that currently involves a lot of paperwork. The Council on Environmental Quality would create standards for how environmental data should be collected and shared, then build tools and a unified online system so that different federal agencies can electronically exchange information about environmental reviews and permits. Agencies would need to use these new digital standards and eventually connect to a shared cloud-based portal where people can apply for permits online.
How it affects you
If you need to get an environmental permit or authorization from the federal government—whether for a construction project, energy development, or other activity—this could eventually make the process faster and less paperwork-intensive once the digital system is fully in place. The main changes would roll out gradually, with a pilot program starting within a year and the full system targeted for completion by December 2027.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jul 17, 2025)
ePermit Act
This bill establishes requirements related to digitizing environmental reviews conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) must develop, publish, and iteratively update data standards for the collection and curation of certain data related to environmental reviews. CEQ must also design, test, and build prototype tools for environmental reviews.
Additionally, CEQ must publish guidance to assist relevant agencies in implementing such standards as well as certain minimum functional requirements, such as data sharing that enables automated transfer of relevant data among federal agencies. Federal agencies responsible for environmental reviews or authorizations must implement the data standards and such minimum functional requirements.
To the maximum extent practicable, CEQ and such agencies must iteratively develop and maintain a unified interagency data system consisting of interconnected federal agency systems and shared services for environmental reviews and authorizations, including a common interactive, digital, cloud-based authorization portal.
Within a year, CEQ must oversee a pilot of shared services for environmental reviews and authorizations, including the portal. To the maximum extent practicable, CEQ must develop and implement the unified interagency data system by December 1, 2027.
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. R. 4503
AN ACT
ePermit Act
Sponsor: Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD-At Large) · Introduced Jul 17, 2025 · Environmental Protection · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 10, 2025: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.”
Numbers that changed
Dollar amounts, dates and percentages, taken word for word from the text- Sec. 3 · Time period · Introduced → Committee versionEstablishment of data standards180 days→60 days…(a) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act,…
- Sec. 5 · Time period · Introduced → Committee versionPublication of guidance for implementation of data standards and minimum functional requirements30 days→120 days…(a) Publication Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act,…
| Section | Where | Before | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sec. 3Time period | Establishment of data standards…(a) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act,…Introduced → Committee version | 180 days | 60 days |
| Sec. 5Time period | Publication of guidance for implementation of data standards and minimum functional requirements…(a) Publication Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act,…Introduced → Committee version | 30 days | 120 days |
Listed only when one value replaced another and the surrounding words stayed the same. Open a section to read the full wording.