Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025

Bill Number

S. 995

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Last Updated

2025-05-22T12:18:15Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025" (S. 995) aims to repeal a specific Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule on emissions standards for certain vehicles and amend the Clean Air Act to prevent future EPA regulations on vehicle tailpipe emissions (exhaust from engines) from restricting the types of new motor vehicles available for sale, such as by favoring electric vehicles over those with gasoline or other engines.

Key Provisions

• Short Title (Section 1): Designates the bill as the "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025."
• Repeal of EPA Rule (Section 2): Nullifies the EPA's final rule titled "Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles," published on April 18, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 27842). This rule set stricter emissions limits for pollutants like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide from passenger cars, trucks, and vans starting in 2027.
• Amendment to Clean Air Act (Section 3):
• Modifies Section 202(a)(2) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521(a)(2)) to prohibit any EPA regulation or revision under this section—from January 1, 2021, onward, including future proposals—from:
• Mandating the use of any specific technology (e.g., requiring electric batteries instead of internal combustion engines).
• Limiting the availability of new motor vehicles based on engine type (e.g., effectively banning sales of non-electric vehicles).
• Requires the EPA Administrator to revise existing regulations within 24 months of enactment to align with this new prohibition.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Repeal of Specific Rule: Directly eliminates the 2024 EPA emissions standards, which aimed to reduce greenhouse gases and promote a shift toward zero-emission vehicles like electric cars. This reverses a key part of recent efforts to combat climate change through vehicle regulations.
• Broad Restriction on Future Regulations: Adds a new subparagraph (B) to the Clean Air Act's vehicle emissions provision, limiting EPA's flexibility. Previously, the EPA could set technology-based standards without explicit bans on mandating tech or restricting vehicle types. This change applies retroactively to rules after 2021 and prospectively to all future ones, requiring the EPA to ensure regulations do not indirectly limit consumer choices in vehicle powertrains (engine systems).

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The EPA would lose authority to enforce or create emissions rules that push for specific vehicle technologies, potentially delaying or altering national air quality and climate goals. It must undertake mandatory revisions within two years, increasing administrative workload and possible litigation from environmental advocates.
• On Citizens: Consumers could see greater availability of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, preserving options and potentially lowering short-term costs for non-electric models. However, this might slow reductions in vehicle-related air pollution and contribute to higher long-term health and climate risks from emissions.
• On International Relations: Could affect U.S. auto exports and competitiveness in global markets increasingly focused on electric vehicles (e.g., under EU or Chinese standards). It might strain relations with allies pushing for aggressive emissions cuts, like in international climate agreements, by signaling a rollback of U.S. environmental commitments.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Automobile Manufacturers: Traditional makers (e.g., those producing gasoline vehicles) benefit from reduced pressure to transition to electric tech, while electric vehicle producers (e.g., Tesla) may face less regulatory support.
• Consumers and Retailers: Gain more choices in vehicle types at dealerships, potentially avoiding mandates that could raise prices or limit options.
• Environmental and Public Health Groups: Adversely affected, as the changes could hinder pollution reductions and climate action.
• State Governments: States with strict emissions laws (e.g., California) might challenge the bill federally, while others reliant on auto industries could support it.
• EPA and Federal Regulators: Face constrained rulemaking powers and compliance burdens.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: The bill could invite lawsuits over whether it unconstitutionally limits Congress's delegation of authority to the EPA under the Clean Air Act (a principle called the "nondelegation doctrine"). It also risks conflicts with state-level vehicle standards, potentially leading to interstate commerce disputes.
• Constitutional Implications: Raises questions about separation of powers, as it micromanages agency rulemaking, but aligns with Congress's role in setting statutory limits on executive agencies.
• Political Implications: Introduced by a bipartisan group but primarily Republican senators, it counters recent Democratic-led EPA actions favoring electric vehicles. If enacted, it could polarize debates on climate policy, influencing future elections and regulatory agendas.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

Cosponsors (24)

Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK], Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
• 2025-03-12: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-12 — PDF (3 pages)