![[murray-minute.png]] **Legislation to codify Delawareans’ opposition to the electric vehicle mandate... participate in the hearing on Wednesday!** To Delaware Republicans and Independents, Republicans in the General Assembly are putting forth a Bill to reflect what Voters have told them all over our State. Again, we need your help to make a statement supporting your freedom. Senate Bill 96 (SB 96) is a piece of Delaware legislation that is scheduled to receive a hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy, and Transportation Committee. The bill is a response to a proposed regulation by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) that aims to adopt California's Advanced Clean Car II vehicle emission standards If the proposed regulation is implemented, it would prohibit the sale of new vehicles with standard combustion engines weighing under 14,000 pounds starting in 2035. Instead, zero-emission vehicles, mainly electric vehicles, would be encouraged. However, SB 96 aims to prevent DNREC from enforcing such a mandate and prohibiting the sale of new gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. The introduction of SB 96 is supported by multiple polls that indicate a significant opposition to DNREC's proposal among Delawareans. In a survey conducted in February, 73% of respondents expressed opposition to the proposal. Another study conducted in the same month showed that only 18% of respondents either somewhat or strongly supported Delaware adopting California's language on electric vehicles. Senator Pettyjohn, the sponsor of SB 96 and a Republican Whip, acknowledges the enormous outreach from constituents and voters throughout the state expressing opposition to the proposed mandate. This includes individuals with more progressive opinions on environmental policy. SB 96 aims to codify the public's opposition to the mandate and protect their ability to purchase vehicles that best suit their needs, whether gasoline, diesel-powered, or electric. The public comment period regarding the proposed regulation recently closed, and DNREC received nearly 5,000 comments. Of those, over 93% expressed opposition to the mandate. Senator Pettyjohn emphasizes that SB 96 reflects the general public's opposition to the proposed regulation and ensures their freedom to choose the vehicles that align with their preferences and requirements. The Senate Environment, Energy, and Transportation Committee will convene on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. to discuss SB 96. It is the only bill on the committee's agenda for that day. It is important to note that there may be some duplicate submissions on the public comment page regarding the proposed mandate, which could lead to slight differences in the percentage of individuals supporting or opposing the regulation compared to the percentage of comments submitted. Read more about the bill: www.delawaregop.com. To participate in the virtual hearing: [Click here to RSVP](https://portal.interactosity.com/l/ebkNXOlhZG763FEuw8yeYD3g/vvQOaIRSJVlbpzgSYVxTIA/f8A6qMDJ5ChoEXieW76LaQ) To Live Stream the hearing: [Click Live Stream link](https://portal.interactosity.com/l/ebkNXOlhZG763FEuw8yeYD3g/l8KevYrruNzhTfKYeZwfOA/f8A6qMDJ5ChoEXieW76LaQ) Julianne Murray Chair Delaware State Republican Party