Senate Republicans push to repeal California’s de facto EV mandate

Senate Republicans are moving to terminate a Biden -era rule that effectively allows California to impose a national electric vehicle ( EV ) mandate.

The Biden Environmental Protection Agency signed off on California ’s “ Advanced Clean Cars II ” — which would ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles in the state and 11 others by 2035 — just weeks before the Trump administration took control in Washington .

Republican West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito unveiled a resolution Friday afternoon to repeal that vehicle emissions rule despite an adverse ruling from a congressional watchdog and a nonpartisan Senate official arguing the EPA waiver was not subject to the Congressional Review Act .

Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled Friday that California ’s vehicle emission waivers are not “rules” and not subject to the CRA process.

Senate Republicans have introduced the CRA resolutions to “preserve all options” Opponents of the California rules are optimistic Senate Republicans will ultimately achieve a full repeal of the de facto EV mandate.