Sponsors
The bill reduces regulatory costs for farmers and small agricultural businesses by exempting nonroad agricultural engines from federal emissions limits, but that relief comes with greater local air pollution and health risks, potential taxpayer and local government costs, and weaker nationwide consistency in air quality management.
Farmers and small agricultural businesses would face lower compliance costs and avoid expenses for retrofits or equipment replacement because nonroad agricultural engines and vehicles are exempted from federal emissions limits.
Rural residents and farm workers would likely face increased exposure to air pollution and higher respiratory and other health risks because agricultural nonroad engines would no longer be subject to federal emissions limits.
State and local governments would face weakened national consistency in emissions rules, making interstate air quality management and state implementation plans more complicated and potentially less effective.
Taxpayers and local governments could incur higher healthcare and environmental remediation costs if emissions-related illness or pollution increases as a result of the exemption.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Exempts nonroad engines and vehicles used for agricultural purposes from federal emissions standards under 42 U.S.C. § 7547, removing the Administrator's authority to regulate them under that provision.
Introduced March 5, 2026 by Victoria Spartz · Last progress March 5, 2026
Creates a statutory exemption that stops federal vehicle emissions rules from applying to nonroad engines and nonroad vehicles when they are used for agricultural purposes. The amendment narrows the federal emissions statute by adding an explicit carve-out, removing the Administrator’s authority to regulate those agricultural nonroad engines and vehicles under the referenced emissions provisions. The change is limited in scope (one new subsection) and does not create new programs or funding. It primarily affects farmers, equipment makers, and federal regulatory authority over agricultural nonroad engines and vehicles, with likely consequences for compliance costs and local air emissions.