HR2218-119

What This Bill Does

The Stop CARB Act removes California's special Clean Air Act waiver pathway and related state authority. It strikes section 209(b), voids any California waiver issued before enactment, treats pending waiver applications as denied, and removes several references to state waivers in fuels and vehicle provisions. It replaces nonroad engine language with a broad prohibition on any state or local standard or requirement that directly or indirectly controls emissions from nonroad engines or nonroad vehicles, including construction equipment, construction vehicles, farm equipment, farm vehicles, locomotives, and locomotive engines. It also repeals section 177, which lets other states adopt California new motor vehicle emissions standards, and makes related conforming changes. The practical effect is to centralize these emissions standards at the federal level and invalidate California-led vehicle and nonroad emissions regimes.

Who Benefits and How

Automakers selling gasoline vehicles benefit because California-led standards and section 177 adoption states would lose authority to impose stricter vehicle requirements. Construction equipment manufacturers benefit because states could not adopt separate nonroad engine emissions standards for new construction equipment or vehicles. Farm equipment manufacturers benefit from a federal-only standard rather than state or local nonroad emissions rules. Refiners and fuel suppliers benefit from removal of several waiver-linked Clean Air Act fuel provisions.

Who Bears the Burden and How

California Air Resources Board loses its Clean Air Act waiver pathway and existing waivers lose force. States using California standards lose section 177 authority to adopt California new motor vehicle emissions standards. EPA must treat pending section 209 waiver applications as denied and implement conforming statutory changes. Communities exposed to vehicle and nonroad engine pollution may lose stricter state-level emissions protections.

Key Provisions

• Repeals Clean Air Act section 209(b) waiver authority for California standards.
• Voids existing California waivers and denies pending waiver applications as of enactment.
• Prohibits state or local emissions standards for nonroad engines and nonroad vehicles.
• Repeals section 177 authority for states to adopt California new motor vehicle standards.
• Makes conforming changes to fuels and clean-fuel vehicle provisions tied to California waivers.