AB 2046: Vehicles: pollution control devices.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 10 · Republican 5

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 13, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
3. July 1, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 17, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
5. June 3, 2026Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and TRANS.
6. May 21, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
7. May 21, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 5218.)
8. May 18, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. May 14, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
10. April 22, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
11. April 7, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. March 2, 2026Referred to Com. on TRANS.