In the early 2000s, Pennsylvania adopted by reference a California regulation regarding a control program for diesel emissions for heavy-duty vehicles, meaning larger trucks typically used for commercial purposes.
 
DEP has unfortunately been interpreting our Pennsylvania regulation to mean that we also automatically adopt any changes which California may make to their regulation. A recently enacted change to California’s rule regarding vehicle warranty provisions means that the price of purchasing these heavy-duty vehicles starting in 2022 has increased by up to several thousand dollars a vehicle.
 
Forcing Pennsylvania businesses to comply with this mandate has placed an unnecessary strain on those involved in the trucking industry in the Commonwealth, for no discernible environmental benefit. The impact of the change in the regulation will solely be to encourage those in Pennsylvania who will be purchasing new heavy-duty vehicles to cross our state lines to purchase them in one of our neighboring states without this provision in place.
 
My legislation will make it clear that this burdensome requirement in this regulation does not apply to Pennsylvania. Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation to protect the sovereignty of Pennsylvania to make our own decisions instead of relying on California and to protect economic activity within our state.
 
Previous cosponsors: BANTA, BARTON, GREINER, HAMM, JAMES, JOZWIAK, R. MACKENZIE, MARSHALL, MOUL, OBERLANDER, PICKETT, RAPP, SMITH, STAMBAUGH, TWARDZIK, KEEFER, ZIMMERMAN and ROWE