HJRES-75 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers".

This bill became law on 2025-05-09 as Public Law No. 119-9.

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

YourVoice.Now Summary

EnvironmentCorporate Benefits

New power limits for store and restaurant fridges are dropped — the 2029 deadline is gone.

Environment

Energy efficiency rules for commercial refrigerators — canceled before their 2029 start

In January 2025 the Energy Department set stricter limits on how much power this equipment may use. Congress voided that rule, so the older limits stay. The agency cannot write a close copy unless a new law allows it.

Corporate Benefits

Commercial refrigerator makers' relief from rules — no redesign needed by 2029

Makers of this equipment would have had to redesign products to use less power by January 2029. That deadline is gone, so they can keep building to the older standard.

More about this bill

Most people see no change in daily life from this one. It became law in May 2025. The resolution cancels an energy rule for store and restaurant refrigerators. The Energy Department wrote that rule in January 2025. It set stricter limits on how much power the equipment may use, starting January 22, 2029. Congress voided the rule, so the older limits stay. The effect lands on companies that make commercial refrigerators and freezers. They no longer have to redesign products to use less power. Stores and restaurants can keep buying the older, less efficient models. The law Congress used also blocks a repeat. The Energy Department cannot issue a close copy of the rule unless a new law allows it.

Congressional Summary

This joint resolution eliminates new, more stringent energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. Under the joint resolution, such equipment is no longer required to comply with the new standards.Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers and published by the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on January 21, 2025. Under the rule, the office adopted new energy conservation standards for commercial refrigeration equipment to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified. The rule required the equipment to comply with the those standards by January 22, 2029.

Legislative Subjects

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresDepartment of EnergyEnergy efficiency and conservationFood industry and servicesLighting, heating, cooling

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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