Congress moves to strip states of power to set stricter vehicle emission rules
H.R. 2218 — Stop CARB Act of 2025 · Filed by Troy Nehls (R-TX) · 7 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 18, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill repeals California's authority under the Clean Air Act to set its own vehicle and engine emission standards and to grant waivers allowing other states to adopt California's stricter standards. It eliminates all existing waivers California has issued and denies any pending waiver applications, effectively blocking California and other states from enforcing emission rules stricter than federal standards for cars, trucks, construction equipment, farm equipment, locomotives, and nonroad engines.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to strip California and other states of authority to enforce stricter vehicle and engine emission standards, eliminating a major regulatory pathway for air pollution control. The title frames this as reducing regulatory burden, but the operative effect is deregulation that benefits manufacturers at the cost of air quality.
What the text implies
- Eliminates California's Section 209 waiver authority retroactively, invalidating all existing waivers issued to other states (e.g., Massachusetts, New York, Vermont) that have adopted California standards. Those states lose the legal basis for their own emission rules mid-implementation.
- Blocks pending waiver applications, preventing states from adopting California standards even if they have already begun regulatory processes or public comment periods.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
automotive manufacturers; heavy equipment manufacturers (construction, farm, locomotive); fuel refiners and importers