NACS applauds President Trump’s signature of H.J. Res. 87 and H.J. Res. 88, the bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions overturning California’s attempt to mandate electric vehicle sales.
The now overturned California rule had set standards requiring 22% of new vehicles sold in the state to be “zero emission” in model year 2025 and was a precursor to pending California rules that over time would require 100% of new vehicles sold in California to be “zero emission.”
“By signing these resolutions into law, President Trump is helping restore consumer choice to the transportation energy market by permitting fair competition among the fuel technologies that American drivers demand. We also appreciate the leadership of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Representatives John Joyce (R-PA) and John James (R-MI), Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE), and the bipartisan group of Congressional supporters who saw this effort through to the President’s desk,” said NACS President and CEO Henry Armour.
“This is a landmark moment for consumer choice and energy equity,” said Elizabeth Graham, CEO of California Fuels and Convenience Alliance. “California’s gas car ban, combined with the ACT and Low NOx rules, would have significantly increased vehicle costs, placed unsustainable pressure on California’s infrastructure, and disproportionately harmed working families and small businesses. Today’s action helps put us back on a path toward balanced, achievable energy policies.”
In January, California withdrew its request for a federal waiver to require commercial truckers to transition to zero-emissions vehicles, preempting an expected denial from the incoming Trump administration.
For states to set their own rules on vehicle emissions, they must be granted a waiver to do so by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Those waivers are supposed to be based upon the specific air quality needs in the state. Instead, However, California asked for a waiver based on its concern about global climate change, not California-specific air quality.
NACS and other groups also challenged California’s rule in the courts. In December 2024, he U.S. Supreme Court granted a petition filed by NACS and its coalition partners in a case challenging the state of California’s Advanced Clean Cars I rule. In February 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with NACS’ position and declined to pause further action in the case, which is expected to have a decision later in 2025.