S. 996 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 12, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryLimits EPA approval of state vehicle emission rules
Under the Clean Air Act, states can ask the EPA for permission to set their own rules about pollution from new cars and truck engines, but the EPA has to approve it first. This bill would change that by blocking the EPA from allowing states to adopt rules that directly or indirectly restrict the sale of cars with regular gas engines. It would also require the EPA to cancel waivers it approved between early 2022 and when this bill becomes law, if those waivers limited gas-powered vehicles.
How it affects you
If you live in a state that wanted stricter pollution rules for cars, this would limit that state's ability to adopt them. The bill also affects automakers and states that have been working under EPA-approved emission standards, as those approvals could be reversed if they restrict gas-powered vehicles.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 12, 2025)
Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025
This bill modifies the waiver process under the Clean Air Act related to state emission control standards for new motor vehicles (or new motor vehicle engines).
Under current law, states are preempted from adopting or enforcing emission control standards for new motor vehicles (or new motor vehicle engines) unless the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a waiver authorizing a state to adopt such standards if certain requirements are met.
The bill provides that state standards that directly or indirectly limit the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines are not eligible for waivers. The bill also prohibits the EPA from determining that any state standards amended after the bill's enactment are within the scope of an existing waiver.
Additionally, the bill requires the EPA to revoke waivers granted between January 1, 2022, and the date of enactment of this bill if the standards directly or indirectly limit the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 996
A BILL
Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) · Introduced Mar 12, 2025 · Environmental Protection · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 12, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.”