ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland’s plans to phase out gas-powered vehicles and transition to electric cars by 2035 under the Advanced Clean Cars II rule are now in question. President Donald Trump on Thursday, June 12, signed a resolution repealing California’s authority to set its own tailpipe emissions standards — the same standards Maryland and 17 other states had adopted.
The measure, passed under the Congressional Review Act, effectively eliminates the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waiver that allowed California to implement stricter emissions rules — and allowed 17 other states, including Maryland, to adopt the same standards.
Legal Challenges
The legality of the repeal is already being contested. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and attorneys general from 10 other states filed a lawsuit to block enforcement, arguing that the Congressional Review Act was improperly used to overturn a non-regulatory waiver — effectively stripping states of their authority under the Clean Air Act.
Although Maryland’s vehicle standards are directly affected by the repeal of California’s emissions waiver, the state is not part of the lawsuit filed by California and 10 other states.
Maryland joined a different multistate lawsuit in May 2025, challenging a Trump administration executive order that halted federal funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
What Is Advanced Clean Cars II?
The Advanced Clean Cars II, or ACC II, rule builds on Maryland’s existing Clean Cars Program by requiring automakers to steadily increase the percentage of electric vehicles they sell in the state — ultimately reaching 100% of new passenger car and light truck sales by model year 2035.
The rule supports a mix of currently available zero-emission technologies, including battery electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Maryland formally adopted ACC II in 2023, aligning its targets with California’s framework under the Clean Air Act.
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