HJRES-42 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment".

This bill became law on 2025-05-09 as Public Law No. 119-8.

The summary below describes the bill at the version we last reviewed; the enacted text may differ.

YourVoice.Now Summary

EnvironmentCorporate Benefits

A 2024 rule on how appliance makers prove energy claims is cancelled — shoppers see no change.

Environment

Checks that appliances meet energy rules — 2024 update cancelled

The 2024 rule set new steps for proving appliances meet federal energy standards. Those steps are gone, so the older checking rules apply instead.

Bringing back this appliance paperwork rule — needs an act of Congress

A rule cancelled this way cannot come back in much the same form. The Energy Department would need Congress to pass a new law first.

Corporate Benefits

Paperwork relief for appliance makers — 2024 filing rules cancelled

The rule had added filing and label steps for firms that make home appliances and business equipment. Those steps no longer apply.

More about this bill

Shopping for a washing machine or dishwasher works the same as before. Federal energy standards for appliances did not change. What changed is an Energy Department rule published in October 2024. That rule covered the paperwork and checks behind those standards. It no longer has any force, so the older rules apply instead. Congress cancelled the rule under the Congressional Review Act. That law lets Congress void new federal rules soon after agencies publish them. The measure became Public Law 119-8 on May 9, 2025. Makers of home appliances and commercial equipment no longer have to meet the 2024 steps. The Energy Department also cannot issue a close copy unless Congress passes a new law.

Congressional Summary

This joint resolution eliminates new, more stringent certification, labeling, and enforcement requirements related to energy conservation standards for specific types of appliances.Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies a rule titled the Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment and published by the Department of Energy (DOE) on October 9, 2024. Under the rule, DOE modified its regulations on the energy efficiency of certain types of consumer products (e.g., washing machines and dishwashers) and industrial equipment (e.g., computer room air conditioners). DOE modified certification requirements, labeling requirements, and enforcement provisions for these products and equipment to (1) align reporting requirements with currently applicable energy conservation standards and test procedures, and (2) provide DOE with the information necessary to determine the appropriate classification of products for the application of standards.

Legislative Subjects

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightConsumer affairsDepartment of EnergyEnergy efficiency and conservationEnvironmental technologyIndustrial policy and productivityLicensing and registrationsLighting, heating, coolingPerformance measurement

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber: House
Status: summarized
Action: Public Law
Action Date: 2025-05-09
Date Added: 2026-06-05
Source: Congress.gov →

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