On Wednesday, the Minnesota Senate held a joint hearing with the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy and Legacy Committees regarding the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) intention to adopt the California Emission Standards through the administrative rulemaking process.

Governor Walz’s administration is seeking to implement California’s mandatory auto-emission standards on vehicles sold in Minnesota by bypassing the legislature and using the administrative rulemaking process.

“There’s a clear lack of foresight with these proposed changes,” said Senator Andrew Lang (R-Olivia). “Not only is the Governor trying to circumvent the legislature, but he’s pushing to have California emission standards dictate a Minnesota market. The MPCA has never even regulated an industry of this size or type. These proposed changes don’t incentivize electric vehicles, they mandate them, and that’s a huge problem. The demand for these vehicles should be market-driven, not government-mandated.”

If adopted, the California Emission Standards will rattle Minnesota’s economy, raising transportation costs for lower-income residents and disproportionally hurting rural and border communities. Data suggests that new vehicles’ demand will drop 7.1% and that Minnesotans can expect to pay $800-$2,500 more per vehicle, not just on EVs. 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has begun hosting public information sessions in the agency’s effort to impose the California Car Mandate on Minnesotans. In addition to conducting a public information session on Tuesday, the MPCA hosted one Wednesday, and additional sessions are scheduled for January 27 and February 2. You can find more information for them HERE. 

Minnesotans who wish to submit public comments can either attend one of the planned virtual hearings, they can submit comments via the Office of Administrative Hearings website, or attend a public hearing. The hearings for public comments will take place virtually on February 22 and 23 at 3 p.m.