S 996119th CongressIn Committee

Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025

Introduced: Mar 12, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025 would prevent states from enacting or maintaining standards that effectively eliminate the sale of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs). It amends the Clean Air Act to explicitly treat state standards that directly or indirectly limit ICE vehicle sales as within the scope of disapproved standards for which EPA waivers cannot be granted. It also requires that any existing EPA waivers granted for such standards (from January 1, 2022 up to enactment) be revoked if they do not comply with the new prohibition. In short, the bill is designed to keep ICE-powered cars legally saleable by limiting state rules and EPA waivers that would ban or phase out ICE vehicle sales.

Key Points

1Adds a new prohibition: State standards that directly or indirectly limit the sale or use of new ICE vehicles would be included in the scope of standards that cannot be approved via federal waivers (as defined in 209(b) of the Clean Air Act).
2Narrowing the waiver scope: The Administrator cannot treat any state standard enacted after the bill’s enactment as within the scope of a waiver granted before enactment.
3Revocation of noncompliant waivers: If an EPA waiver granted between January 1, 2022 and enactment finds that the waiver does not comply with the new prohibition, the Administrator must revoke that waiver.
4Definition reference: The bill relies on the existing regulatory definition of “internal combustion engine” as defined in 40 C.F.R. § 63.9375 (as of January 1, 2023), for purposes of what counts as an ICE vehicle.
5Short title and purpose: The act is titled the “Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025,” signaling its aim to maintain consumer choice by preserving ICE vehicle availability.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Consumers and buyers who want the option to purchase ICE-powered vehicles.- Automotive manufacturers, dealers, and the broader supply chain that respond to state and federal vehicle standards.Secondary group/area affected- State governments and regulatory agencies that have pursued or are considering stricter emissions standards or ICE bans.- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and federal regulatory processes governing waivers under the Clean Air Act.Additional impacts- Potential friction with states pursuing aggressive electrification or zero-emission vehicle targets; possible shifts in how states design climate and transportation policies.- Possible implications for environmental and public health goals tied to reducing vehicle emissions, depending on how enforcement interacts with broader national policies.The bill targets the legal pathway (state standards and EPA waivers) by which states could effectively ban or phase out ICE vehicle sales, rather than mandating or funding particular vehicle technologies.While preserving ICE vehicle sales, the bill could influence the speed and manner in which markets transition to electrified options, depending on state policies and market forces.

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