Bill Targets EPA Car Emission Rules: Seeks Repeal of 2027 Standards, Limits on Future Tech Mandates

This proposed legislation, the "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025," takes direct aim at recent and future federal regulation of vehicle emissions. It specifically targets and repeals a major Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule finalized earlier this year (found in 89 Fed. Reg. 27842) that set stricter multi-pollutant emission standards for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles starting with model year 2027. Beyond just rolling back that specific rule, the bill seeks to amend the Clean Air Act itself to place new restrictions on how the EPA can regulate vehicle emissions going forward.

Hitting Reverse on Recent Emission Standards

The most immediate impact of this bill (Section 2) would be to nullify the EPA's comprehensive emissions standards set for model years 2027 and later. These standards were designed to significantly reduce greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants from new cars and trucks over time. By repealing this rule, the bill effectively eliminates those specific federal requirements before they take effect, meaning manufacturers wouldn't be federally mandated by this rule to meet those stricter pollution targets.

Putting the Brakes on EPA's Regulatory Toolkit

Section 3 goes further by changing the EPA's fundamental authority under the Clean Air Act regarding vehicle emissions. It explicitly prohibits the agency from issuing regulations that would mandate the use of any specific technology (like a particular type of catalytic converter or engine system) to meet emission standards. Critically, it also bars the EPA from creating rules that could limit the availability of new vehicles based on their engine type – think gasoline versus electric. This aims to prevent regulations that might effectively phase out internal combustion engines through increasingly stringent standards. The EPA would be required to revise any existing regulations within 24 months to align with these new limitations.

What This Could Mean Down the Road

If enacted, this bill could significantly alter the trajectory of vehicle technology and environmental regulation in the U.S. While it might preserve a wider range of traditional gasoline-powered vehicle options for consumers in the near term and potentially ease certain compliance pressures on automakers, it simultaneously removes a key driver for reducing vehicle pollution. The repeal of the 2027 standards and the new limitations on the EPA's authority (Section 3) raise concerns about progress on air quality, particularly in communities already heavily impacted by traffic pollution, and national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The requirement to revise existing rules within 24 months could also lead to uncertainty and potentially weaken standards already on the books.