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S. 5668Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Methane Monitoring Science Act of 2026

A bill to require a Federal science strategy for the monitoring and detection of methane, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by John R. CurtisSen. John R. Curtis (R-UT)
Introduced September 30, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated October 8, 2026 at 3:12 AM UTC

The Methane Monitoring Science Act of 2026 directs NASA to create a federal science strategy for monitoring and detecting methane emissions. The strategy must be developed within 18 months, involve other federal agencies, and be submitted to Congress. It is intended to improve scientific understanding of methane sources and support energy security, while allowing state, local, academic, nonprofit, industry, and international groups to use the data voluntarily.

Key Provisions

  • NASA must, within 18 months of the law’s enactment, develop a consensus‑based strategy for using existing and future methane monitoring technologies, including ground‑based, airborne, and satellite sensors.
  • The strategy must assess how to detect and quantify methane emissions, especially large events, and be coordinated with relevant federal departments and agencies.
  • The completed strategy is to be submitted to Congress and used to guide future research and development efforts.
  • Non‑federal entities (states, local governments, academia, nonprofits, industry, and international partners) may voluntarily use the data and information generated, but are not required to do so.
  • The law does not grant NASA or any other agency new enforcement powers over methane emissions and does not create new regulatory requirements.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

September 30, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 30, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

September 30, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 30, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5668

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 30, 2026

Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To require a Federal science strategy for the monitoring and detection of methane, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Methane Monitoring Science Act of 2026.

2.

Methane monitoring and detection strategy

(a)

In general

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (in this section referred to as the Administrator) shall carry out the following:

(1)

Develop, in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal departments and agencies, a consensus- and science-based strategy to assess and evaluate the utilization of present and future methane monitoring, detection, and quantification capabilities, including ground-based, airborne, and space-based sensors, source- and site-level technologies, and the integration of data relating to such monitoring and detection from other indicators, with a focus on the ability to detect methane emissions and large methane emission events, to strengthen American energy security.

(2)

Submit such strategy to Congress.

(b)

Goal

The strategy under subsection (a) shall be developed with the goal of enhancing the scientific value of the capabilities referred to in such subsection, such that—

(1)

the Administrator may use such strategy to inform the planning of relevant research and development activities; and

(2)

non-Federal entities, including State and local governments, academia, nonprofit organizations, commercial industry such as the natural gas and oil industry of the United States, and international organizations, may effectively, but are not required to, leverage data and information provided or enabled by such capabilities.

(c)

Strategy alignment

In developing the strategy under subsection (a), the Administrator may draw on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine decadal surveys pursuant to section 20305 of title 51, United States Code, the Office of Science and Technology Policy interagency civilian Earth observation plans pursuant to section 702 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18371), and other earth observation planning and strategy documents and processes.

(d)

Rules of construction

(1)

Enforcement authority

Nothing in this section may be construed as conferring enforcement authority to the Administrator, or the head of any other Federal department or agency, with regard to methane emissions, that was not in effect on the date before the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2)

Affect on other requirements

Nothing in this section may be construed to—

(A)

establish or otherwise affect, any regulatory requirement under any other provision of Federal law; or

(B)

authorize the use of information collected under this section for the purposes of determining compliance with, or enforcing, any such requirement.