Statement: VA Senate committee defends clean cars

Virginia’s Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee voted on Tuesday to kill the final bill of the 2023 General Assembly attempting to rollback Virginia’s clean car standards. The bill, HB1378, passed the House of Delegates while several similar bills introduced in the Virginia Senate previously failed in this Senate committee earlier in session.

The bill would have rolled back a low-emission vehicle (LEV) and zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) program. These stronger regulations on tailpipe emissions reduce air pollution and lead to many more electric vehicles on the road. Rolling back this program has unfortunately been a priority for the Youngkin administration and many Republicans since it passed in 2021. 

We thank the senators in this committee that have continued to protect Virginia’s landmark climate policies. The future is electric, and we are thrilled to see Virginia is continuing to move in that direction protecting our climate and our health.