WHAT THE BILL WOULD DO

Sen. Connie Leyva’s SB 210 would require state agencies to develop and implement a program for inspection and maintenance of heavy-duty trucks, including out-of-state diesel rigs. The state’s current smog-check program does not apply to heavy-duty big rigs.

WHO SUPPORTS IT

Environmental groups and public health advocates have been clamoring for this bill for years, citing research attributing adverse health effects to air pollution from big diesel engines.

WHO’S OPPOSED

The California Chamber of Commerce, the California Farm Bureau Federation and small truck companies complain that the cost to comply with the legislation would be prohibitive and could cause some little guys to go out of business.

WHY IT MATTERS

With more than 40% of greenhouse gases spewing from tailpipes across California’s transportation sector, the state has set its sights on reducing diesel emissions. Leyva claims her inspection program would, over 10 years, reduce pollution enough to equal the removal of 375,000 big diesel trucks from the roads.

GOVERNOR’S CALL

The governor, who has made public health a major focus, signed the bill Sept. 20, 2019, as part of a package of climate measures calling it “the first ‘smog check’ program of its kind in the nation.”