Senate leaders are eager to push forward with a sweeping infrastructure permitting reform package that has garnered significant bipartisan support.
The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), introduced by the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee after they reached a deal with the White House in late September, would consolidate the timeline for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews for energy infrastructure projects and set limits on what legal challenges could be filed against new projects. The legislation would also require data center developers to pay the cost of the electricity needed to operate the centers.
The House passed the SPEED Act, its permitting reform bill, in December 2025, and before the bill could become law the two measures would need to be reconciled. Over the weekend, Energy and Environment committee leaders from both parties released a revised BAAJA to reflect feedback and make technical changes. With strong bipartisan support the legislation could be approved before Congress adjourns sine die. However, some Democrats want to hold off on taking up permitting reform until they are in control next year. There's also a push by some for a deal in which the Trump administration pledges to move ahead on stalled or rejected "clean" energy projects in exchange for backing the bill.