From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office
A SEMA-sponsored California bill (SB 1069), aimed at reforming the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Executive Order (EO) process for aftermarket parts, has advanced out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. It now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
- EOs are required for many emissions-related aftermarket parts to be legally sold in California. While the standards themselves remain unchanged, companies must wait for CARB approval before bringing products to market, making the decision timeline a critical issue for the industry.
The measure, authored by Sen. Tim Grayson (D-Concord), is focused on improving the EO application process by establishing clear timelines for CARB to act on submissions and by adding transparency around how long approvals are taking. It does not change emissions requirements or limit CARB's authority to deny non-compliant products.
The reform is needed to bring predictability to a process that has become increasingly uncertain. Companies are investing heavily in testing and compliance; the process costs companies several thousand dollars for each application in fees that were intended to facilitate faster reviews. However, long and inconsistent wait times continue to delay product launches and tie up capital.
If you have any questions or are interested in supporting the effort, contact Christian Robinson, SEMA's senior director for state government affairs, at christianr@sema.org.
This article was originally published on Thursday, April 16.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock | Robert Schlie
