S. 1841

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To provide regulatory relief to alternative fuel producers and consumers, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · May 21, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Paul · Committee: Committee on Environment and Public Works

S. 1841

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Alternative fuels

(a) Aftermarket conversions of motor vehicles to alternative fuel
- Section 203 of the Clean Air Act () is amended by adding at the end the following: 42 U.S.C. 7522
  - (c) Older vehicles
    - Older vehicles
    - (1) In general
      - The aftermarket conversion of a motor vehicle to alternative fuel operation shall not—
      - In general
        
        be considered tampering under this section if the aftermarket conversion system manufacturer or the person performing the conversion demonstrates that the development and engineering sophistication of the conversion technology is—
        
        (i) matched to an appropriate motor vehicle or group of motor vehicles; and
        
        (ii) well-designed and installed in accordance with good engineering judgment so that the aftermarket conversion system does not degrade emission performance, as compared to the performance of the motor vehicle or motor vehicles before the conversion; or
        
        require the Administrator to issue a certificate of conformity.
    - (2) Label
      - The person performing a conversion described in paragraph (1) shall affix a label to the motor vehicle stating that—
      - Label
        
        the motor vehicle has been equipped with an aftermarket conversion system; and
        
        the installation of that system occurred after the initial sale of the motor vehicle.
    - (3) No preclusion of orders
      - Nothing in this subsection precludes the Administrator from issuing an order to prohibit the manufacture, sale, distribution, or installation of an aftermarket conversion system if the Administrator has evidence that the installation of the aftermarket conversion system on a motor vehicle degrades emission performance.
      - No preclusion of orders
(b) Biomass fuels
- Section 211 of the Clean Air Act () is amended by adding at the end the following: 42 U.S.C. 7545
  - (w) Biomass fuels
    - Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Administrator may not prohibit or control biomass fuel (as defined in section 203 of the Biomass Energy and Alcohol Fuels Act of 1980 ()) under this Act. 42 U.S.C. 8802

SEC. 3. Calculation of average fuel economy

(a) Definitions
- Section 32901(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
  - by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (19) as paragraphs (8), (9), (10), (13), (16), (17), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), and (26), respectively;
  - by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
  - by inserting after paragraph (10) (as so redesignated) the following:
  - by inserting after paragraph (13) (as so redesignated) the following:
  - by inserting after paragraph (17) (as so redesignated) the following:
  - by inserting after paragraph (24) (as so redesignated) the following:
(b) Fuel choice enabling manufacturers
- (1) Compliance with the Clean Air Act
  - (l) Deemed compliance with the Clean Air Act
    - If a fuel choice enabling manufacturer is in compliance with all applicable standards prescribed under this section for model year 2020 or any subsequent model year, the automobiles manufactured by that manufacturer in that model year are deemed to be in compliance with all applicable greenhouse gas regulations established by the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to section 202 of the Clean Air Act (). 42 U.S.C. 7521
  - Section 32902 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
- (2) Credits for exceeding standards
  - any of the 5 consecutive model years immediately after the model year for which the credits are earned, to the extent that those credits are not used under paragraph (1).
  - Section 32903(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
- (3) Average fuel economy bonus for fuel choice enabling manufacturers
  - Section 32904 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
    - by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and
      - (d) Average fuel economy bonus for fuel choice enabling manufacturers
        
        The average fuel economy of a fuel choice enabling manufacturer for a model year is the sum of—
        
        the average fuel economy of the fuel choice enabling manufacturer for that model year, as otherwise calculated under this section; and
        
        8 miles per gallon.
    - by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
(c) Effective date
- The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to automobiles manufactured for model year 2026 or for any subsequent model year.

SEC. 4. Ethanol waiver

Section 211(h)(4) of the Clean Air Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 7545(h)(4)
- in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting after ; and
- in subparagraph (C), by striking .

S. 1841

Table of contents

SEC. 1. Short title

SEC. 2. Alternative fuels

SEC. 3. Calculation of average fuel economy

SEC. 4. Ethanol waiver