HR 2865119th CongressIn Committee

New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025

Introduced: Apr 10, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025 would bar the federal government from issuing oil and gas leases on the outer continental shelf (OCS) off the coast of New England states—Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It achieves this by adding a new subsection (q) to Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, stating that the Secretary may not issue a lease for exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the OCS off those states' coasts, regardless of other laws. The bill was introduced in the House on April 10, 2025, with a roster of sponsors, and was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources. In effect, the bill would prevent new offshore oil and gas leasing in the targeted New England zones. It does not address existing leases or exploratory activity already underway, and it does not specify penalties or enforcement mechanisms beyond prohibiting new leases. If enacted, it would shift federal offshore energy planning away from these waters and could influence energy supply, environmental protections, and the region’s broader energy and economic strategies.

Key Points

1Prohibition of new leases: The bill prohibits the Secretary from issuing any lease for exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in the outer continental shelf off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
2Legal mechanism: The prohibition is added as subsection (q) to Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, with language stating that the prohibition overrides other provisions and laws.
3Short title: The act is named the New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025.
4Legislative status: Introduced in the House on April 10, 2025, sponsored by Rep. Magaziner and multiple co-sponsors, and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
5Scope and agency role: The prohibition targets federal offshore leasing authority; the Secretary of the Interior (and the agency that administers OCS leasing) would be prevented from issuing new oil or gas leases in the specified areas.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Coastal states of New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut) and their maritime economy, including potential shifts in energy development plans and revenue considerations.- U.S. federal offshore energy program, particularly the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which administers OCS leasing.Secondary group/area affected- Oil and gas industry players and suppliers seeking offshore exploration or development in the blocked regions.- Industries and communities dependent on fishing, tourism, and coastal environment, which may benefit from reduced offshore drilling risks.- Renewable energy sector (e.g., offshore wind) and related infrastructure and investment, which could receive greater policy and planning attention in these waters.Additional impacts- Environmental policy and protection: potential enhancement of environmental safeguards and protection of marine ecosystems in New England waters.- Energy market and security considerations: possible effect on U.S. offshore energy supply options and long-term planning; potential changes in royalty revenues and federal/state financial planning related to OCS leasing activities.- Legal and regulatory process: the bill would create a binding prohibition for new leases in the specified areas, which could face legal challenges or require further congressional action to alter or repeal.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 19, 2025