Two Congressional Review Act resolutions seeking the revocation of California's Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Omnibus NOx waivers was introduced this week into the U.S. House of Representatives by Republican lawmakers.
California was granted the waivers under the Biden administration to enact air quality and emissions standards that exceed those passed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The measures of disapproval were introduced by Reps. John Joyce (R-Pennsylvania), John James (R-Michigan), Jay Obernolte (R-California), Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), Doug LaMalfa (R-California), Kevin Kiley (R-California), and Lisa McClain (R-Michigan).
"“The trucking industry commends our congressional champions for introducing these resolutions, which would take the regulatory keys away from unelected CARB bureaucrats whose mad dash to zero poses a grave threat to the supply chain and our economy,” American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear wrote in a letter to Republican leaders in the House and Senate urging them to move this legislation forward quickly. “The patchwork of unachievable EV mandates enabled by EPA’s waivers to California threatened to significantly raise costs for American consumers without delivering the promised environmental benefits.”
At the 2025 Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition in Nashville last month, a panel of experts noted emissions regulations have become a bit of a mess and difficult to manage on a state-by-state basis, and the rules have already affected some fleets' ability to purchase new trucks – diesels and battery electric.
The American Truck Dealers via statement Thursday confirmed ACT and Omnibus standards have already impacted truck dealers’ ability to sell trucks in the state, with California dealerships experiencing a reduction in year-over-year sales by more than 50%.
"Much higher prices, limited charging and alternative fueling locations, and reduced operational performance have contributed to very limited adoption of zero-emission technology in the heavy-duty truck sector," the group said. "California’s unrealistic regulatory agenda is driving fleets to keep older trucks on the road longer, setting up family-owned dealerships for failure, and increasing the cost of transportation. If these regulations aren’t stopped, American consumers will pay the price."
The Trump administration has targeted emissions regulation rollbacks since taking office in January. Beyond review of waivers previously granted to California, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin last month said his office would reconsider the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3 (GHG3) final rule, and revisit portions of the Biden-era "Clean Trucks Plan," which includes the 2022 Heavy-Duty Nitrous Oxide (NOx) rule.
A bill, reintroduced last month after failing to advance in the previous Congress, was brought forth by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma). The Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act would limit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing CAA waivers for state policies seeking to ban or otherwise limit the sale of internal combustion engines. The bill also calls for the EPA to revoke any waiver granted since Jan. 1, 2022, that does not comply with the requirements of the bill. That would include waivers for the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Trucks and Omnibus Low-NOx rules.
An identical bill has also been introduced in the House by Rep. John Joyce (R-Pennsylvania).
Another piece of legislation -- dubbed the Stop California from Advancing Regulatory Burden Act, or Stop CARB Act -- was introduced this month by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and would repeal California’s Clean Air Act waiver exemption, repeal Section 177 of the Clean Air Act that allows other states to adopt California’s emissions standards, and nullify any active or pending waivers granted to California.
