The FREE Act (Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement Act) is designed to speed up and simplify how federal agencies issue permits. Right now, most agencies have permitting systems that give them broad discretion to approve or deny permits, often without strict time limits. This can result in long delays, high costs, and sometimes agencies deliberately stalling permit decisions. This bill pushes agencies to consider switching to a 'permitting by rule' system instead.

Here's how permitting by rule works: Instead of agency officials reviewing each application individually, the agency writes down specific, clear standards that applicants must meet. Applicants then submit a form certifying they meet those standards, along with any supporting documents they want to include. If the agency doesn't respond within 180 days, the permit is automatically approved. The agency can still audit permits after they're issued and enforce the rules if someone violates them—the shift is from gatekeeping before approval to enforcement after approval.

Every federal agency must evaluate its current permitting system and report to Congress within 240 days on which permits could use this new system and which ones can't. For permits that could switch, agencies have 12 months to set up the new permitting by rule process. If an agency misses the reporting deadline, it has to pay the attorney fees of anyone who sues them for permit delays. If an agency wrongly denies a permit or revokes one, the applicant can appeal in federal court, and if they win, the agency pays their legal costs.