H 153

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
  SESSION 2025
 H  2
  HOUSE BILL 153
  Committee Substitute Favorable 4/9/25
 Short Title:   DOT/DEQ to Study Safety and Emissions Inspec.  (Public)
 Sponsors:
 Referred to:
  February 21, 2025
1A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO DIRECT THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
3     AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO STUDY THE
4     NORTH CAROLINA SAFETY AND EMISSIONS INSPECTION PROGRAM.
5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
6SECTION 1. The Department of Transportation and the Department of
7 Environmental Quality shall jointly study the North Carolina Safety and Emissions Inspection
8 Program, including whether the frequency of vehicle safety and emissions inspections can be
9 decreased or eliminated and potential changes to the program that would add to its efficiency in
10 light of motor vehicle modernization, driver commute trends, and relevant changes to State and
11 federal programs related to motor vehicle safety and emissions inspections. The Departments
12 shall include all of the following in their report:
13(1)     North Carolina Safety and Emissions Inspections Program background.
14(2)     A summary of other state safety and emissions programs, as applicable.
15(3)     A motor vehicle inspection analysis process description.
16(4)     A financial analysis of the program, including the following, at a minimum:
17a.       State safety inspection fees.
18b.       State emissions inspection fees.
19c.       Fee generation and use summaries.
20d.       Program projections or issues related to fee receipts moving forward.
21(5)     Current program statistics and projections.
22(6)     Program projections due to motor vehicle modernization.
23(7)     The Departments shall conduct and summarize results from a motor vehicle
24safety and emissions inspections station survey.
25(8)     The Departments shall also consider public safety, air quality, savings to
26vehicle owners, impacts on State revenue trends, and potential effects to motor
27vehicle inspection station industry within this State.
28(9)     Legislative recommendations, including changes to safety and emissions
29inspections program exceptions and changes to inspection fee amounts and
30their distribution, as applicable.
31(10) Any other information, issues, recommendations, or topics the Departments
32deem relevant.
33No later than March 1, 2026, the Departments shall jointly submit their report to the
34 North Carolina General Assembly and the Fiscal Research Division and shall jointly report their
35 findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee.
36SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.
  *H153-v-2*