Overview

Title

To amend the Clean Air Act to prevent the elimination of the sale of motor vehicles with internal combustion engines, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

The bill wants to make sure that people can still buy cars that run on regular gas engines, even if some states want to make rules against selling those cars. It says that if a state tries to change the rules to stop selling these cars, those rules shouldn't count anymore.

Summary AI

S. 996, titled the "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025," aims to amend the Clean Air Act to ensure that the sale of motor vehicles with internal combustion engines is not restricted or eliminated by state standards. The bill specifies changes to Section 209(b) of the Act to stop states from setting standards that could directly or indirectly limit the sale or use of new vehicles with these engines. Additionally, it provides that any state standard changed after this bill's enactment date cannot fall under pre-existing waivers. The bill also mandates the Environmental Protection Agency to revoke certain existing waivers if they don't comply with the new amendment criteria.

Published

2025-03-12
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2025-03-12
Package ID: BILLS-119s996is

Keywords AI

clean air act internal combustion engines state standards environmental protection agency vehicle sales waiver revocation state autonomy legal ambiguity financial implications legislative impacts

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
561
Pages:
3
Sentences:
8

Language

Nouns: 179
Verbs: 34
Adjectives: 9
Adverbs: 3
Numbers: 22
Entities: 46

Complexity

Average Token Length:
3.68
Average Sentence Length:
70.12
Token Entropy:
4.59
Readability (ARI):
34.13

AnalysisAI

Summary of the Bill

The proposed legislation, titled the "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025," seeks to amend the Clean Air Act, primarily focusing on preventing the prohibition of sales for motor vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines (ICEs). Introduced in the United States Senate, this bill aims to curb states from establishing standards that might limit or eliminate sales of new internal combustion vehicles. Central to the amendment is the restriction on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from expanding existing waivers of the Clean Air Act to include newer state standards that might contravene this directive. Additionally, it mandates a review and revocation of specific waivers granted between January 2022 and the enactment date of this legislation.

Summary of Significant Issues

  1. Impact on State Autonomy: The bill's approach to revoking existing waivers could significantly affect states' rights to set environmental standards, potentially triggering conflicts around state versus federal powers. The lack of proposed remedial measures for affected states could exacerbate these tensions.

  2. Ambiguity in Language: Notably, the provision preventing states from indirectly or directly limiting the sale of ICE vehicles raises concerns due to its ambiguous language. Such vagueness may lead to varied interpretations and legal challenges, causing uncertainty for states and automobile manufacturers.

  3. Regulatory Concerns: There is no clear guidance provided for the EPA Administrator on assessing waivers' compliance with the new amendments. This absence of clarity could result in inconsistent application of the law, further complicating the regulatory landscape.

  4. Financial Implications: The bill does not discuss potential financial impacts associated with enforcing these amendments, leaving questions about possible costs and budgetary effects unaddressed.

  5. Complex Legal Language: The bill's language is notably complex and legalistic, potentially rendering it inaccessible to the general public, who may find it challenging to grasp its implications fully.

Impact on the Public and Stakeholders

For the broader public, this bill could preserve the availability and choice of purchasing vehicles with internal combustion engines, which currently constitute a significant portion of the market. Consumers who value the affordability or specific utility of ICE vehicles might view this positively. However, the broader implications, such as environmental impacts, might concern citizens focused on sustainable transportation solutions.

Stakeholder Effects

  • States: States that have moved towards stricter emission standards or prioritized electric vehicle adoption may face setbacks if their prior waivers are revoked. This change could disrupt state-led efforts to address climate change through vehicle emission reductions.

  • Environmental Groups: Advocates for sustainable energy and climate action may view this bill negatively, as it might hinder progress towards reducing vehicular emissions—a significant source of greenhouse gases.

  • Automotive Industry: Manufacturers of internal combustion engines might support this bill, as it could maintain or increase demand for their products. Conversely, companies investing heavily in electric vehicles might perceive this bill as a barrier to larger market shifts towards sustainability.

In essence, while the "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025" primarily aims to maintain consumer choice in vehicle purchases, it also raises important questions about state sovereignty, regulatory clarity, financial implications, and environmental impacts, which require thorough consideration by lawmakers and the public.

Issues

  • The revocation of existing waivers as stated in Section 2(b) may significantly impact States that previously relied on them. The absence of a discussion on potential consequences or remedial measures for impacted States raises ethical and political concerns regarding State autonomy and preparedness for such regulatory changes.

  • The provision in Section 2(a)(1)(D) that State standards may not 'directly or indirectly limit the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines' is ambiguous and could lead to varying interpretations and legal challenges. This lack of clarity could cause legal uncertainty for States and manufacturers.

  • The absence of guidance or criteria in Section 2(a)(4) for how the Administrator should determine if a waiver is within the scope of the new amendments may lead to inconsistent application, raising legal and regulatory concerns.

  • The bill lacks discussion of the financial implications or budgetary impacts related to the enforcement of the amendments described in Section 2, which could have significant cost implications and concerns about efficiency and financial oversight.

  • The complexity and legalistic nature of the language used in Section 2 may make it difficult for non-experts to understand without further clarification, which could hinder public understanding and informed decision-making.

  • The section titled 'Short title' does not provide sufficient context about the content or implications of the Act, making it difficult to assess potential political and legislative impacts, including questions of wasteful spending or favoritism.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the act establishes the short title, indicating that it can be referred to as the "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025."

2. State standards Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The text amends the Clean Air Act to prevent states from imposing standards that limit the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines. It also specifies that any state standard amended after this new rule cannot be included in any waivers previously granted unless they were issued before this change. Additionally, it requires the EPA to revoke specific waivers granted between January 1, 2022, and the enactment of this law if they do not comply with the new rules.