CSDA is under a time crunch to show support for SB 496. This bill eases some of the zero emission vehicle standards on local agencies. We need letters by Wednesday, March 26 to get this bill out of committee. CSDA has made it is very easy for your district to sign on at https://csdaforms.wufoo.com/forms/q1qtqyq60v54645/

Below if more information about SB 496. 

On October 1, 2023, CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation took effect. This mandate, among other things, generally requires a phased transition of medium- and heavy-duty fleets from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2045.

These regulations are having a significant effect on state and local government agencies, by increasing the amount of reporting required annually for all vehicles added to and removed from a state or local government agency’s fleet, the unfunded procurement of new technologies, and the development of the infrastructure needed to service these new technologies, while still meeting the same the performance as current technologies. 

SB 496 (Hurtado) will protect communities and provide relief to local agencies by:

·                   SB 496 establishes an Appeals Advisory Committee by which local agencies may request a review of exemption request denials. This ensures transparency while protecting due process for those seeking further review.

• Additionally, SB 496 would update the emergency vehicle exemption, allowing those vehicles that respond to and support critical operations related to emergencies and disasters, often under austere conditions, to continue to protect our communities.
• SB 496 also modifies the requirements of the daily usage exemption, removing barriers for the applicant to comply with the mandate.

·                   Finally, this measure promotes affordability amid rapidly rising cost pressures on essential local services by averting the costly acquisition of ZEVs before it is possible to install the infrastructure required to use them.

For more information about SB 496 please go to Advanced Clean Fleets Reform Measure - California Special Districts Association