Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 5, 2023 11:55 AM
From:	Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr.
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Vehicle Emissions Reform

In the near future, I intend to offer legislation to reform Pennsylvania’s outdated vehicle emissions test, also referred to as the Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) program.

The Commonwealth is mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement an I/M program to comply with the federal 1990 Clean Air Act amendments. Pennsylvania’s I/M program requires motorists in 25 counties to participate in an annual emissions test, even though an independent study proved removing seven counties would have a minimal effect on maintaining federal air quality standards.

In addition, vehicle emissions testing has become less effective at reducing air pollution, particularly due to newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles entering the fleet. If newer vehicles consistently pass the test, then we should exempt newer vehicles from the I/M program and reward our constituents for investing in environmentally-friendly vehicles.

Every year, motorists in 25 counties must schedule a burdensome emissions test, which costs approximately $40 for gasoline-powered cars, vans, and light-duty trucks. Electric vehicles and diesel-powered vehicles are federally exempt, and other vehicles such as motorcycles are also exempt in the Commonwealth.

Please consider co-sponsoring these proposals to reform Pennsylvania’s I/M program to ensure the Commonwealth delivers regulatory relief and cost-savings to our constituents.

Document #1

Introduced as SB562

Description:	Exempting Eligible Counties from Vehicle Emissions Testing This legislation will exempt Blair, Cambria, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, and Westmoreland Counties from the vehicle emissions test. Senate Resolution 168 of 2017 (Langerholc) directed the Joint State Government Commission to evaluate the impacts of removing a county of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th class from vehicle emissions testing. A product of S.R. 168 was a supplemental memorandum dated January 18, 2019, which fully carried-out the objectives of S.R. 168 and identified these seven counties as candidates for removal from vehicle emissions testing. The withdrawal of these counties is likely to have a minimal effect on the overall ability of the Commonwealth to maintain the federal air quality standards. Improved air quality in North Carolina allowed the EPA to remove 26 of 48 counties from their state’s emissions testing in September 2018. Also, Tennessee passed a law in 2018 eliminating their vehicle emissions testing in several counties, which was approved by the EPA. These states exemplify what should occur in Pennsylvania with our improved air quality measures. Previous co-sponsors of Senate Bill 744 from the 2019-2020 legislative session were: K. Ward, Stefano, Vogel, Brooks, Baker, and J. Ward.

Document #2

Introduced as SB561

Description:	Exempting Newer Vehicles from the Emissions Test This legislation will exempt the five newest model year vehicles from the outdated emissions test. Pennsylvania is a member of the federally-mandated Northeast Ozone Transport Region (OTR), which sets stricter air quality requirements for 12 states and the District of Columbia. Interestingly, the following OTR States were approved to exempt newer vehicles from the emissions test: Connecticut (4 years), Delaware (5 years), New Jersey (5 years), Rhode Island (2 years) and Virginia (4 years). If other OTR States can exempt newer vehicles, then I believe Pennsylvania can as well. Previous co-sponsors of Senate Bill 777: Brooks, Vogel, Bartolotta, Hutchinson, Costa, Baker, Mastriano, J. Ward, DiSanto, Martin, Regan, Stefano, and Pittman.