Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to enhance consumer protection in Minnesota by ensuring consumers have the freedom to choose the type of fuel for motorized equipment. It aims to restrict the state's ability to enforce rules that limit consumer choice in purchasing equipment based on fuel type. Additionally, the bill proposes to eliminate the existing Clean Car rules in Minnesota, which are based on certain emission standards.

Main Provisions

• Consumer Choice of Fuel: State agencies are prohibited from adopting rules that restrict consumer purchases of motorized equipment or mandate retailer inventory based on fuel source. This includes tools like generators and lawn mowers, recreational vehicles such as golf carts and snowmobiles, passenger cars, farm equipment, and medium/heavy-duty trucks.

• Legislative Oversight: Any proposed rule that incorporates or refers to rules from another state must be approved by the Minnesota legislature before adoption. This requirement ensures legislative oversight over rules which might otherwise be adopted through reference to external standards, such as those from California.

• Amendments to Existing Law: The bill amends existing statutes to ensure that standards related to air, water, and waste pollution take into account regional differences and remain under the control of Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency rather than adhering to more stringent external standards.

• Repeal of Clean Car Rules: The bill repeals Minnesota Rules parts that establish standards for low-emission and zero-emission vehicles which previously aligned with California's vehicle emission regulations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill repeals parts of the Minnesota Rules that incorporated California's emission standards for low-emission and zero-emission vehicles, removing the previous alignment with California’s Clean Car standards.

• It establishes legislative approval as a prerequisite for any rules referring to regulations from other states, thereby shifting regulatory power regarding fuel and emissions back to the state legislature.

Relevant Terms

• Consumer Choice of Fuel
• Clean Car Rules
• Emission Standards
• Motorized Equipment
• Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs)
• Low-Emission Vehicles (LEVs)
• California Emission Standards
• Pollution Control Agency