LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN

January 2, 2024

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UPDATE: CARB Extends Clean Truck Check Reporting Deadline to January 31
On Wednesday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that it has extended through January 31 the deadline for vehicle owners subject to the Clean Truck Check regulation to report their vehicles to CARB’s Clean Truck Check database (as reported in Legislative Bulletin, the deadline had previously been December 31).

The Clean Truck Check regulation – also known as the Heavy Duty Inspection and Maintenance Program – applies to nearly all non-gasoline vehicles (including diesel vehicles) with a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000 pounds or more which operate within California. Along with the reporting requirement, the regulation requires vehicle owners to pay a fee of $30 per reported vehicle.

After the reporting period closes, all vehicles covered by the regulation will require proof of compliance to continue legally operating within the state. Failure to comply could result in CARB placing a DMV registration hold on non-compliant vehicles.

The Clean Truck Check regulation was approved by CARB in 2021. Phase 1 of implementation began January 1, 2023 with CARB’s deployment of Remote Emissions Monitoring Devices, roadside monitors which examine the emissions of passing heavy-duty vehicles and flag potential high emitters which are then targeted for Notices to Submit to Testing. Phase 2 of the program – the current database-reporting requirement – was initiated on October 1 and runs through January 31.

Phase 3, which is expected to begin July 1, will require owners of heavy-duty vehicles to submit to periodic emissions testing of their vehicles (similar to the state’s smog inspection program for light-duty vehicles). For California-registered vehicles, emissions testing compliance deadlines are tied to the vehicle’s DMV registration date, and passing test results must be submitted within 90 days of the compliance deadline. For on-road agricultural vehicles, compliance tests are required annually for 2013 and newer model year engines and twice a year for vehicles with older engines (for more information, see the “Periodic Testing Requirements” section, here).

For more information about the Clean Truck Check program, including fact sheets and video walkthroughs of the reporting process, click here.

CARB Delays Enforcement of “Advanced Clean Fleets” Regulation
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Thursday announced that it will delay enforcement of its Advanced Clean Fleets regulation until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants the state a waiver to implement stricter regulations than those implemented by the federal government “or determines that a waiver is not necessary.” Provisions of the regulation relating to drayage trucks; local, state and federal government fleets; and “high priority fleets” (defined as trucking fleets of 50 or more vehicles or trucking companies which make at least $50 million in annual revenues).

For additional details about the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, see the May 1, 2023 edition of Legislative Bulletin and read CARB’s recent Enforcement Notice.

UPDATE: Legislative Analyst’s Office Forecasts $68 Billion Budget Deficit
Last month the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office projected that California faces a $68 billion budget deficit heading into the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget cycle. In response to the projected shortfall, the Department of Finance issued a Budget Letter directing all state executive departments to reduce their expenditures. State agencies are already feeling the crunch, with the California Department of Food and Agriculture announcing last month that “due to current budget uncertainties, CDFA is pausing the current [State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program] Direct-to-Producer solicitation.” SWEEP is intended to provide “financial incentives for California agricultural operations to invest in irrigation systems that save water and reduce GHG emissions,” and the pause puts a hold on roughly $21 million in grant funding that would have been available under the program.

Californians will get the first glimpse of how Governor Gavin Newsom intends to manage the budget shortfall no later than next Wednesday, the Constitutional deadline for the Governor to release his initial Proposed Budget.

While the historic deficit will doubtless complicate the Budget and policy landscape in Sacramento this year, CCA will nevertheless aggressively push for our Budget priorities – including wolf compensation, prescribed grazing infrastructure and wildfire resilience. For more information, see the December 11 edition of Legislative Bulletin.

New Episode of Stories from California Cattle Country 
Stories from California Cattle Country, “Direct-to-Consumer Sales with Justin Lofton of AH Beef” is out now! Stories from California Cattle Country is produced by the California Cattlemen’s Foundation with support from the California Cattle Council. To listen to the episode, click here.

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