Congress blocks California's stricter car pollution rules.

What it does

Congress voted to reject an EPA rule. The rule let California set stricter pollution rules for cars. Car makers would have had to sell more zero-emission vehicles in California. Now only the weaker national pollution rules apply.

Who it affects

California residents lose stricter pollution rules their state had set. Car makers no longer have to meet California's stricter standards. People may breathe worse air because cars will not have to be as clean.

One thing to notice

The rule had been in effect since January 6, 2025. Congress's rejection stops it and prevents the EPA from making a similar rule without new approval from Congress.

From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.

Where it stands

41 cosponsors: 40 Republicans, 1 Independents.

• Apr 2, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Apr 2, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce”
• May 1, 2025 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 246 - 164 (Roll no. 114). (text: 04/30/2025 CR H1749)”
• May 22, 2025 — Passed both chambers · Congress.gov: “Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 277”
• Jun 6, 2025 — Sent to president · Congress.gov: “Presented to President”
• Jun 12, 2025 — Signed into law · Congress.gov: “Became Public Law No: 119-16”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

8 groups reported lobbying about this bill. They filed 12 reports from Dec 2025 to Jun 2026.

Those reports show $3,398,703 in lobbying spending. Each report lists about 8 bills. So that money was not all for this bill.

More groups named this bill than 88% of bills with any report.

John Joyce, who sponsored the bill, received $1,442,437 from PACs for the 2026 election.

• Alliance for Automotive Innovation — $1,253,703 in 1 report
• Zurich American Insurance Company — $990,000 in 2 reports
• American International Automobile Dealers Association — $675,000 in 2 reports
• American Honda Motor Co Inc (formerly Honda North America) — $140,000 in 2 reports
• Conservatives for Property Rights — $100,000 in 1 report

Lobbying is legal. These reports show who lobbied about this bill, not what changed.

Words to know

• zero-emission vehicles — Cars that produce no pollution when they run, like electric cars.
• pollution rules — Rules that set how much dirty air cars and engines can release.
• weaker national pollution rules — Less strict rules set by the national government instead of states.
• lobbying — Trying to influence lawmakers about a bill. Companies and groups pay people to do this.
• PACs — Groups that collect money and give it to candidates for office.
• sponsored — To sponsor a bill is to introduce it in Congress and put your name on it.