2023 -- S 0195
========
LC001212
========
S TATE OF RHODE IS L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
____________
A N A CT
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS
INSPECTION PROGRAM
Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Euer, Gu, Valverde, LaMountain, Ujifusa, Tikoian,
Kallman, Miller, and Britto
Date Introduced: February 16, 2023
Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 31-47.1 of the General Laws entitled "Motor Vehicle Emissions
2 Inspection Program" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3 31-47.1-12. Advanced motor vehicle emission standards.
4 (a) The department of environmental management shall adopt motor vehicle emissions
5 standards based on California's duly promulgated motor vehicle emissions standards, unless, after
6 a public hearing, the department establishes, based on substantial evidence, emissions standards
7 and a compliance program similar to the state of California's will not achieve, in the aggregate,
8 greater motor vehicle pollution reductions than the federal standards and compliance program as
9 required in § 31-47.1-1(a) for any such model year. The department shall publicly issue detailed
10 written findings before and after holding a public hearing pursuant to this section and said hearing
11 shall be subject to the provisions for public meetings contained in chapter 46 of title 42 ("open
12 meetings"). A decision not to adopt said standards shall apply as long as the federal standards and
13 the standards of the state of California do not change.
14 (b) The department shall promulgate regulations to ensure maximum motor vehicle
15 pollution reductions pursuant to the provisions of this section within one calendar year of the
16 adoption of the advanced emission standards of the state of California.
17 (c) The provisions of this section are intended as minimum requirements of the state's
18 motor vehicle emissions program and shall not limit the department's authority to adopt and
1 implement the stricter air quality regulations allowed under any other federal and state law.
2 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC001212
========
LC001212 - Page 2 of 3
 EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A CT
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS
INSPECTION PROGRAM
***
1 This act would require the department of environmental management to adopt motor
2 vehicle emissions standards based on California's promulgated standards; provided that, the
3 California standards achieve greater motor vehicle pollution reductions than the federal standards
4 as required by § 31-47.1-1(a).
5 This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC001212
========
LC001212 - Page 3 of 3