Senate votes to undo California plan to ban gas cars, sidestepping parliamentarian

Published May 22, 2025 11:42am ET



The Senate voted Thursday to strip California of its ability to set strict vehicle emissions standards aimed at phasing out gas-powered cars, circumventing the chamber’s parliamentarian to send the measure to President Donald Trump’s desk. 

In a 51-44 vote, the Senate voted to cancel waivers granted to California by the Environmental Protection Agency. These waivers gave the state the ability to set regulations banning the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035, which critics have likened to an electric vehicle mandate. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) was the only Democrat who voted in favor, while several others did not participate.

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