Press Releases
September 16, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a victory for the “No Immunity for Big Oil” coalition, the House Judiciary Committee today adjourned a markup without voting to advance H.R. 8330, legislation sponsored by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) and 20 other House Republicans that aims to give Big Oil companies broad immunity from any laws or lawsuits seeking to hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis.
Iyla Shornstein, political director of the Center for Climate Integrity, said:
“In the last 48 hours, groups across the ‘No Immunity for Big Oil’ coalition urged committee members to show up and oppose this dangerous proposal to put Big Oil above the law. Today the committee decided to adjourn rather than bring the Big Oil immunity bill up for a vote. This fight is far from over, but today is a victory for those who agree that no industry should be above the law. Thank you to the Members of Congress who were prepared to oppose this bill and to the communities across the country who continue to stand up and fight back against Big Oil’s desperate push to escape accountability for their climate lies and the harm they’ve caused.”
Background on U.S. Climate Accountability Lawsuits Against Big Oil:
Eleven U.S. states — California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai`i, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont — and the District of Columbia, two tribal governments, and dozens of municipal governments have active lawsuits to hold major oil and gas companies accountable for deceiving the public about their products’ role in climate change. These cases collectively represent more than 1 in 4 people living in the United States.
On October 5, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider a case from Boulder, Colorado. Boulder is one of a growing number of communities across the U.S. — including Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, the District of Columbia, and the states of Massachusetts, Vermont, Minnesota and Connecticut — whose climate deception lawsuits against Big Oil companies are advancing toward discovery and trial after courts denied the companies’ motions to dismiss.
Background on Big Oil’s push for immunity
The oil and gas industry and its allies have been lobbying Congress and the Trump administration for more than a year to escape accountability. Last year, 16 Republican attorneys general proposed creating a “liability shield” for fossil fuel companies modeled on a 2005 law protecting gun manufacturers from lawsuits. In January, the American Petroleum Institute announced that killing state climate lawsuits is a top 2026 priority for the oil lobby.
A growing number of states have passed state-level laws that aim to shield fossil fuel companies from legal accountability, which ProPublica reported are “part of a coordinated effort by groups linked to right-wing activist Leonard Leo.” The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) approved a model bill in August that would provide fossil fuel companies with a “liability shield” and “immunity from climate change claims.”
Background on opposition to Big Oil immunity
This summer, more than 390 groups and 135,000 members of the public urged members of Congress to reject the proposed legislation as part of the nationwide “No Immunity for Big Oil” campaign. Ten U.S. governors, 21 state attorneys general and local officials, and the National Association of Counties have also voiced their opposition. House Judiciary Democrats, in a statement from Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD), have pledged to “defeat” the measures, which Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and a growing number of Democrats have publicly opposed.
Recent polling shows 73% of Democrats, 71% of Independents, and 53% of Republicans oppose shielding oil and gas companies from being held accountable for climate damages.