Republicans introduce federal bill to give Big Oil total legal immunity.
Last Friday afternoon, Republican lawmakers introduced federal legislation that would give the fossil fuel industry total legal immunity from any laws and lawsuits seeking to hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis. In Oregon, a bill like this would effectively kill Multnomah County's active lawsuit against Exxon and other major fossil fuel companies, and block any future attempt to pass a Climate Superfund in our state.
"The fossil fuel industry knew what its product was doing to our planet, and chose to deceive the public and continue selling it anyway," said Caitlin Howard, co-founder of Breach Collective. "Our justice system is designed to hold actors like this accountable. Granting Big Oil a legal shield would be a deliberate choice to preserve a system that rewards extraction of profit over the preservation of life."
The oil and gas industry has been lobbying Congress and the Trump administration for more than a year to escape accountability. In January, the American Petroleum Institute announced that killing “abusive” climate lawsuits and policies is a top priority for 2026. Last year, 16 Republican attorneys general proposed a "liability shield" for fossil fuel companies modeled on a 2005 law protecting gun manufacturers from lawsuits. And a growing number of states have proposed or passed laws aimed at the same goal.
"In the interests of maximizing profits, Big Oil has done everything it can to obscure the truth about the role of fossil fuels in climate change," said David Parker, coordinating committee member of Third Act Oregon. "These corporations have used their political power to slow a necessary and urgent transition to renewable energy. Now they are using their political power to shirk their legal liability for the damage they have caused. Why should the rest of us bear the full, escalating costs of fossil fuel-induced floods, storms, drought, and heat?"
Eleven U.S. states and dozens of city, county, and tribal governments that collectively represent more than 1 in 4 Americans are currently suing major oil and gas companies for deceiving the public about the dangers of fossil fuels. Many of those cases are advancing toward discovery and trial after courts rejected the companies' efforts to dismiss them. This legislation would wipe all of that out.
"Oregonians are experiencing devastating wildfires, droughts, and coastal flooding with rural folks, communities of color, and youth bearing the brunt of these climate impacts," said Jess Grady-Benson, organizing director at Rogue Climate. "The fossil fuel industry has knowingly caused these damages while raking in massive profits without accountability. Corporate giants do not deserve immunity while our communities struggle."
Big Oil and its allies have made no secret of their goal. "Big Oil companies have raked in massive profits at the pump while lying to the American people about the catastrophic harm of their products," said Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity. "Now they want to deny Americans their rightful day in court and stick taxpayers with the bill for the mess they made."
The push for immunity is an attempt to sidestep a justice system that is increasingly working as intended, with courts repeatedly rejecting industry efforts to have these cases thrown out. "Every elected official who cares about the interests of their constituents more than those of corporate polluters should oppose this disgraceful proposal,” said Former Washington Governor Jay Inslee. “Juries are a fundamental bastion of democracy, and it's beyond dangerous to allow powerful and wealthy corporations to shield themselves from ever having to face jurors' judgment."
What you can do right now
We must demand that our elected leaders protect our right to hold polluters accountable. Here’s how you can help us fight back, right now:
Contact Oregon’s members of Congress → Urge them to publicly oppose any federal legislation granting immunity to fossil fuel companies.
Sign on as an organization or elected official → Add your name or organization to the letter to Oregon’s Congressional members. Not an Oregonian? Not a problem! Letter options are available for every state.
Sign the national petition → Tell Congress to oppose giving Big Oil a “get-out-of-jail-free” card.
No industry should be above the law. When corporations knowingly cause harm, communities must have the ability to seek accountability.
