H.R. 9338, the Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026, authorizes $180.786 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for federal pipeline safety programs, including $77 million in grants and $7 million for underground natural gas storage facility safety, with an additional $30 million annually from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for hazardous liquid programs. The bill establishes a new Voluntary Information-Sharing System administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration that allows pipeline operators, state and tribal agencies, safety advocates, manufacturers, and research institutions to confidentially share safety data, incident reports, and best practices without fear of enforcement action or legal liability. A 15-member governing board balanced between government, industry, and public safety representatives will oversee the system and determine what information can be shared among participating entities, with strong protections shielding submitted data from litigation and Freedom of Information Act requests. The bill also modifies user fee regulations to allow pipeline safety fees to remain available for spending indefinitely rather than expiring after a set period, giving the Department of Transportation greater flexibility in managing pipeline safety funding. These provisions aim to improve pipeline safety through increased federal investment and voluntary industry cooperation on safety information sharing.