Passed House. Latest step, Feb 12, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The House passed it 218–212.All 4 of Iowa's representatives voted yes in the House. It would change 2 sections of existing law.
How this bill changes the law
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H.R. 261 would change 2 sections of existing law. Read from the bill text as sent to the Senate (Feb 12, 2026).
adds
changes words
removes or repeals
renumbers
Dashed lines: proposed, not law.
H.R. 261Bill
Sec. 2Prohibition on prohibiting, or requiring permits or other authorizations for, undersea fiber optic cables authorized by a Federal or State agency1 change
Sec. 3(1)Removing restrictions on activities covered by sanctuary special use permits1 change
Sec. 3(2)Removing restrictions on activities covered by sanctuary special use permits1 change
Sec. 3(3)Removing restrictions on activities covered by sanctuary special use permits1 change
16 U.S.C. 1431Findings, purposes, and policies; establishment of system
310A. Prohibition on prohibiting, or requiring permits or other authorizations for, undersea fiber optic cables authorized by a Federal or State agency.—(a) In general.— Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary may not prohibit, or require any permit, including any special use permit, or other authorization for, the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if a license, lease, or permit has been issued by a Federal or State agency, and is in effect, authorizing such installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery.(b) Interagency cooperation.— Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering existing requirements regarding interagency cooperation under section 304(d) in any Federal agency action described in that section and involving the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.
The bill says: The National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 310 the following:
(1) shall authorize the conduct of an activity only if that activity is compatible with the purposes for which the sanctuary is designated and with protection of sanctuary resources; and
The bill says: in paragraph (1), by adding "and" at the end;
From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.
What it does
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Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce from enforcing certain permit requirements for activities related to undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries.
Specifically, Commerce may not prohibit or require an authorization for any covered activities related to undersea fiber optic cables if a license, lease, or permit has been issued by a state or federal agency to authorize the covered activity. Covered activities are the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.
The bill also authorizes Commerce to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to engage in interagency cooperation regarding federal agency actions that are likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure a resource in a national marine sanctuary and involve covered activities.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jan 9, 2025).
Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.
What has happened
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Feb 11, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
Jul 2, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.Library of Congress