S. 990: Freedom to Haul Act of 2025

The Freedom to Haul Act of 2025 is a piece of legislation that aims to change certain regulations regarding air quality and vehicle emissions. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill includes:

1. Prohibition of Emission Rules

The bill specifically prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing or enforcing a final rule known as the "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Phase 3." This rule is designed to regulate the greenhouse gas emissions produced by heavy-duty vehicles. By blocking this rule, the bill seeks to prevent any new emissions standards from being imposed on these vehicles.

2. Amendments to the Clean Air Act

The bill proposes amendments to Section 202(a)(2) of the Clean Air Act. These amendments focus on the following:

• Eliminating any existing regulatory text that mandates the use of specific technologies for emissions control in new motor vehicles.
• Ensuring that no regulations result in a limited availability of new motor vehicles based on the type of engine they use.

3. Required Revisions to Regulations

Within two years of the bill’s enactment, the EPA is required to update existing regulations to align them with the new provisions included in the bill. This means that the EPA would need to review and possibly revise current regulations to comply with the changes regarding technology mandates and availability of vehicles.

4. Purpose of the Bill

The main purpose behind these changes is to increase the availability of new motor vehicles and prevent restrictions that might arise from emissions regulations. The bill aims to ensure that the market for new heavy-duty vehicles remains robust and that consumers have access to a variety of vehicle options without being restricted by future emissions targets.

Relevant Companies

• GM - General Motors may be directly affected as they manufacture heavy-duty vehicles and would benefit from reduced regulatory pressures on emissions.
• F - Ford also produces heavy-duty vehicles and could experience changes in compliance costs and vehicle availability due to this bill.
• TSLA - Tesla, while primarily known for electric vehicles, also exists in the heavy-duty vehicle space and might be impacted by shifting emissions standards.