News & Analysis
June 24, 2026
A coalition of 10 U.S. governors is urging Congress to reject federal legislation that would grant sweeping legal protections to fossil fuel companies and limit the authority of states and local governments to enforce their own laws.
In a letter to Congressional leadership, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Maine Governor Janet Mills, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers all denounced recently introduced bills that seek to shield Big Oil companies from lawsuits or laws targeting their role in the climate crisis.
“These proposals would trample on the rights of states and citizens and attempt to hand wealthy fossil fuel corporations a legal shield against accountability,” the governors wrote. “Congress should be helping to make life more affordable for American families, not helping to protect companies that are profiting off of sky-high gas prices while forcing the costs of their pollution onto taxpayers.”
The governors voiced their opposition to the bills the same week that the “No Immunity for Big Oil” coalition met with Members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill to deliver more than 130,000 signatures and a letter signed by 390 groups urging them to oppose immunity for Big Oil.
No industry should receive a blanket exemption from accountability under the law. I'm urging Congress to reject Big Oil's immunity proposal and stand with states, taxpayers, and the rule of law — not special protections for powerful corporations.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@govpritzker.illinois.gov) June 23, 2026 at 5:46 PM
[image or embed]
“No industry should receive a blanket exemption from accountability under the law,” said Governor Pritzker of Illinois, where Chicago has an active lawsuit seeking to hold Big Oil companies accountable for climate deception. “States have the right to protect their residents, enforce their laws, and seek justice when communities are harmed. This proposal before Congress would undermine those principles and set a dangerous precedent by allowing one industry to avoid legal scrutiny. I urge Congress to reject this proposal and stand with states, taxpayers, and the rule of law — not special protections for powerful corporations.”
“Whenever anyone—whether they are an individual or a big corporation—violates state law and causes harm, states must be able to hold them accountable,” said Governor Lamont, of Connecticut, where Attorney General William Tong could soon put ExxonMobil on trial for violating the state’s consumer protection law. “Congress should not carve out exemptions providing special protections for fossil fuel companies.”
A growing number of members of Congress have said they will oppose any proposal to put Big Oil above the law. Visit NoImmunityforBigOil.org to see if your Representative or Senator is one of them.
