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AB-2046 • 2026

Vehicles: pollution control devices.

Vehicles: pollution control devices.

Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Ransom
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on penalties or enforcement mechanisms for operating vehicles without proper pollution control devices.

Vehicles: Pollution Control Devices

This law exempts certain alternative fuel retrofit systems from state certification requirements and prohibits the State Air Resources Board from requiring additional testing or approval for these systems beyond EPA certification.

What This Bill Does

  • It allows people to use an alternative fuel retrofit system that turns a gasoline-powered car into one that can also run on E85 fuel if the system is certified by the EPA.
  • It stops the State Air Resources Board from requiring extra testing or approval for these alternative fuel systems beyond what the EPA already requires.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own light-duty or medium-duty gasoline-fueled vehicles
  • The State Air Resources Board

Terms To Know

E85 fuel
A type of fuel made from a mix of ethanol and gasoline, used in cars that can run on both types of fuel.
State Air Resources Board
An agency responsible for regulating air quality and pollution control devices in vehicles.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone violates the rules about operating cars without proper pollution control devices.
  • It is unclear how many people will take advantage of the new exemption for alternative fuel systems.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-03-02 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on TRANS.

  3. 2026-02-18 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.

  4. 2026-02-17 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2046, as introduced, Ransom.
Vehicles: pollution control devices.
Existing law prohibits a person from operating or leaving standing upon a highway a motor vehicle that is required to be equipped with a motor vehicle pollution control device or any other certified motor vehicle pollution control device, as specified, unless the motor vehicle is equipped with the required motor vehicle pollution control device that is correctly installed and in operating condition, and prohibits a person from disconnecting, modifying, or altering that device. Existing law also prohibits a person from installing, selling, offering for sale, or advertising any device, apparatus, or mechanism intended for use with, or as a part of, a required motor vehicle pollution control device or system that alters or modifies the original design or performance of the motor vehicle pollution control device or system. Existing law exempts from these provisions an alteration, modification,
or modifying device, apparatus, or mechanism found by resolution of the State Air Resources Board to not reduce the effectiveness of a required motor vehicle pollution control device or to result in emissions from the modified or altered vehicle that comply with existing state or federal standards, as specified. A violation of these provisions is a crime.
This bill would additionally exempt from the above-described provisions an alternative fuel retrofit system for a light-duty or medium-duty gasoline-fueled vehicle that converts the vehicle to a dual-fueled vehicle that can utilize gasoline or E85 fuel if the alternative fuel retrofit system has been certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a clean alternative fuel conversion system, as specified, and would prohibit the State Air Resources Board from requiring state certification, executive order approval, or any additional testing or demonstration for such an alternative fuel retrofit
device.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF