By Youth v. Oil Members Kaylee T., Elias O., and Emma L.
Right now, cities across the US are being hit with record-high numbers of wildfires, floods, and extreme temperatures. And as the biggest fuel companies continue to exacerbate the climate crisis while generating constant profits, US families and taxpayers are paying the price. But with one dangerous piece of legislation, this could be undone entirely — unless we fight back before it’s too late.
Legislation such as Climate Superfunds is being proposed in states across the nation to hold Big Oil accountable. In recent months, large fossil fuel companies such as Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips have faced an influx of climate lawsuits. But Big Oil lobbying groups such as the American Petroleum Institute are paying billions of dollars for legal protection from taking accountability for their actions. Now, Republican politicians Rep. Hageman and Senator Cruz are calling for federal immunity to protect the fossil fuel industry from future climate lawsuits and prevent Climate Superfunds. Our efforts are under threat, thanks to a perilous proposed law known as the “Stop Climate Shakedowns Act.”
On March 24, 2026, Utah became the first US state to sign a Big Oil Immunity bill into law. “The bill, which takes effect May 6, 2026, shields polluters from liability unless plaintiffs can prove, by ‘clear and convincing evidence,’ that the defendant violated a specific emissions statute or permit. This exceptionally high legal bar effectively blocks most climate accountability lawsuits in the state, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists” (Taeoalii-Tipton, 2026). This bill would give Big Oil tremendous power to continue pumping fossil fuels while ignoring the environmental costs. Similar bills have already been proposed in Iowa, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and now at the federal level.
In April 2026, U.S. House Representative Harriet Hageman (Republican legislator from Wyoming) and Senator Ted Cruz (Republican legislator from Texas) introduced legislation that would act as a legal shield for Big Oil against climate lawsuits called the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026. Meanwhile, sixteen Republican attorneys general have proposed federal immunity legislation modeled after a law from 2005 that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits.
The Trump Administration is already involved in efforts to protect the fossil fuel industry. In his 2024 campaign, President Trump promised to loosen environmental regulations on Big Oil and “unleash American energy” through unchecked permits for the industry. In April 2025, his executive order directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to fight any laws or lawsuits aimed at curbing fossil fuel production.
We cannot let these Big Oil companies get away with immunity for their ties to climate change, which has brought injustice and harm to people all over the world. One of the most prevalent effects is the increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters. U.S. families and taxpayers are not only forced to pay millions in damages from these increased natural disasters fueled by the climate crisis, but also suffer from the inflated number of casualties. We need accountability, not a law that legalizes inaction.
We can help strengthen the fight against oil immunity through the power of community at our upcoming town hall event. We are partnering up with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) to help further spread awareness to the polluter pay movement. We will have workshops focused on introducing what people and businesses can do to help support the cause, such as lobbying, messaging, protest training, and step by step guides for small businesses and how they can incorporate their community into the movement. Come to our town hall event and support the movement against oil immunity, everyone is welcome!
Call your representatives and tell them ‘No Immunity for Big Oil’ and sign our petition here!