The bill amends Chapter 42-11.3 of the General Laws, which pertains to motor vehicles owned by governmental bodies. It introduces new definitions, including "Zero-emission vehicle" as a vehicle that produces no emissions from its onboard source of power, and "Alternative-fueled vehicle" as a vehicle that operates with a combination of a small combustion engine, electric motors, and battery packs, or is powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The bill also revises the definitions of terms such as "General officer," "Governmental body," "Own," "Law enforcement officer," "Commuting," and "Employee."

The bill mandates that when a gasoline-powered vehicle owned by a governmental body reaches the end of its service life, it must be replaced with a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV). If a ZEV is not available due to limited supply or inadequate replacement options, the governmental body may receive a waiver to purchase or lease an alternative-fueled vehicle instead. However, no governmental body is allowed more than three waivers in a calendar year unless it can be demonstrated that no ZEVs are available for adequate replacement. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
7859: 42-11.3-1