Session Update: California Car Emission Standards Stymies Budget Deal

The adoption of California’s clean car emissions standards continues to stymie progress on a budget deal over S.F. 959, the omnibus environment, natural resources, and tourism policy and finance bill. The conference committee met Monday, May 10, for a discussion with Laura Bishop, the commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Despite last Friday’s ruling by an administrative law judge upholding the authority of the MPCA to adopt higher emissions standards through rulemaking, the Senate is asking for a two year moratorium on the implementation of the new rules. Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, chair of the Senate environment committee said, “We’re not going to move forward unless our stand on this is accepted. That’s where the Senate stands.”

The chair of the House environment committee, Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, cited the toll tail pipe emissions take on society through poor air quality and adverse health impacts. He noted that the House has had just as many hearings and debates over the ‘clean car’ rulemaking process. “We draw a different conclusion than the Senate,” he said.