Lawmakers in California have promised not to enforce new diesel emissions regulations on trucks up to 13-years-old, in order to gain support for a bill that would significantly hike the diesel fuel tax rate in the state.
The proposed bill, California State Bill 1, aims to raise $10.2 billion dollars over 10 years in order to repairs roads and highways in the state.
In order to appease the trucking industry, lawmakers have added an amendment to the bill, promising not to force drivers to upgrade or retrofit their trucks before they’re 13 years old or driven 800,000 miles. The idea behind the amendment is to ensure truck owners that they will get their money’s worth before having to make costly replacements or additional adjustments to their equipment.
The amendment doesn’t allow drivers to circumvent current CARB regulations, but prevents truck owners from being affected by future, stricter regulations.
The amendment was added to Section 18 of Senate Bill 1, and reads as follow:
“This bill would prohibit, except as specified, the requiring of the retirement, replacement, retrofit, or repower of a self-propelled commercial motor vehicle, directly or indirectly, during a specified period.”
According to USNews.com, the diesel tax hike would amount to an additional 20 cents per gallon, or a 125% increase.
Democratic Sen. Jim Beall worked on the plan for years and called the compromise on future regulations a “fair balance” for truckers. The bill will be voted on later this week.