The National Federation of Independent Small Business (NFIB), Illinois’ leading small business advocacy organization, issued the following statement leading up to the Illinois Pollution Control Board’s hearings on adopting some of California’s vehicle emissions standards.

“Illinois’ small business community overwhelming opposes the adoption of California’s vehicle emissions standards here in Illinois,” said NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley. “This proposal would put Illinois’ small businesses at a disadvantage compared to their peers in neighboring states. Many NFIB members report that they would consider scaling back their business, moving to another state, or closing/selling their business if these mandates go into effect. They’re already wrestling with years of inflation and workforce challenges. The last thing they need is another bureaucratic mandate that further increases the cost of doing business in Illinois.”

The Illinois Pollution Control Board is scheduled to hold hearings this week on the proposed adoption of California’s Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and the Heavy-Duty Low NOx Omnibus Rules.

These rules would:

• phase out the sale of new gasoline- and diesel-powered cars, pick-up trucks, work vans, and SUVs (passenger cars and light-duty trucks), leading to a complete ban on the sale of new non-electric vehicles in 2035 (with limited exceptions).
• reduce the sale of new traditional gasoline- and diesel-powered medium- and heavy-duty trucks (Class 2b through Class 8).
  • 55% of new Class 2b-3 truck sales would have to be electric by 2035.
  • 75% of new Class 4-8 straight truck sales would have to be electric by 2035.
  • 40% of new truck tractor sales would have to be electric by 2035.
• impose sweeping new testing and emissions standards on new heavy-duty trucks.

You can read NFIB Illinois’ written testimony on the adoption of California’s vehicle emissions standards here.