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The Legislature today passed a measure authored by Sen. Megan Dahle, R-Bieber, to pare back repeated annual testing requirements for low-use diesel vehicles that the California Air Resources Board has imposed under the Clean Truck Check program, bringing concrete relief to small businesses while protecting the state’s clean air goals.
Without Senate Bill 1064, these vehicles would face testing four times a year – even though they run less than 1,000 miles annually under a low-use exemption that allows older trucks to remain in operation. For many, the time and mileage driving to testing centers, especially from rural areas, would exceed their regular use.
“Everyone breathes and we all support cleaner air,” Sen. Dahle said, “but our regulations need to reflect real-world uses. Clean Truck Check’s requirements for low-use vehicles were extreme overkill.”
Many of the affected vehicles are specialty equipment used in farming, ranching and logging – industries already suffering from heavy cost pressures operating in California.
Kathie Muse, co-owner of Muse Trucking in Redding, testified in favor of the bill earlier this year in committee.
“Many cannot afford the new equipment. They maintain what they have, they use it carefully, and they use it when the job calls for it,” Muse said. “Current rules require frequent smog testing, even for low-use trucks in rural areas that can mean very long trips just for the compliance testing. This costs time and money and pulls people away from what they should be doing at their work.”
SB 1064 goes next to the governor’s desk for his signature.