Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced a major win for the state’s transportation and logistics industry following a multi-state legal challenge to California’s electric truck mandates. In a landmark settlement, California has agreed to repeal its Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which sought to force companies—including those headquartered outside the state—to phase out internal-combustion trucks in favor of electric models.
The regulation, part of California’s aggressive clean energy agenda, would have had sweeping impacts on the national supply chain due to California’s size and its role as a major hub for international shipping and logistics. Critics, including Hilgers and the Nebraska Trucking Association, argued the rule was overly burdensome and would increase operating costs and consumer prices across the country.
“This settlement is a huge win for everyone in Nebraska—from our outstanding logistics industry that is critical to the Nebraska economy, to consumers who would have faced higher prices, and for the rule of law,” said Attorney General Hilgers. “The tide is starting to turn.”
The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of California, was led by Nebraska and supported by a coalition of 17 states, including Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming. The Nebraska Trucking Association and the Arizona State Legislature also joined the challenge.
As part of the settlement, California regulators agreed to start formal rulemaking proceedings to remove the Advanced Clean Fleets rule from its legal framework. Furthermore, the state conceded that it cannot enforce its proposed 2036 ban on the sale of internal-combustion trucks without first obtaining a Clean Air Act waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nebraska previously led a 24-state coalition that successfully opposed California’s request for such a waiver.
Attorney General Hilgers emphasized that the case sets an important precedent for preventing one state’s regulations from overreaching and imposing economic burdens on others. “I am grateful for the strong coalition of sister states who joined our fight against this radical mandate,” he said.
With this legal victory, Nebraska strengthens its stance as a defender of state sovereignty and a champion of business-friendly regulation in the transportation sector.
Comments