California Ends 'Green' Big-Rig Mandates, Concluding Legal Battle with Bill Barr-Linked Organization

California officials have agreed to withdraw the state’s stringent Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) mandates for heavy-duty trucks, marking a decisive end to a year-long legal battle over the controversial regulations. The move comes after the state’s legal representatives, including Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Air Resources Board (CARB) executive Steven Cliff, reached a settlement with challengers in federal court. According to court documents, the state has committed to presenting a formal repeal of the ACF requirements in a public hearing by October 31 and will not enforce these rules retroactively.

The ACF rules, which had been in effect since early 2024, would have required trucking companies operating in California to begin phasing out diesel-powered vehicles and rapidly replace them with zero-emission alternatives. The regulations were designed to drive aggressive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from one of the state’s largest sources of pollution, but drew immediate criticism from industry groups and free-market advocates who argued that the timeline and technology demands were unrealistic and economically damaging.

The legal challenge was spearheaded by the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce (AmFree), whose legal team is led by former U.S. Attorney General William Barr. AmFree’s lawsuit claimed that California’s regulations violated the Clean Air Act because the state had not yet obtained a necessary environmental waiver from the federal government—a requirement for imposing emissions standards stricter than those enforced nationally. The court settlement now halts California’s efforts pending official repeal and removes the threat of immediate enforcement for companies operating non-compliant fleets.

The outcome was met with celebration among trucking industry leaders and organizations across the country. "We stand up every day for our members to defend free enterprise and stand against failed policies from states like California," said Mark Colson, CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association, highlighting concerns about the ripple effects such mandates could have had nationwide. He emphasized that reversing these regulations would help boost economic activity and protect jobs not only in California but across state lines.

This reversal is the latest in a series of setbacks for aggressive state-led climate initiatives targeting transportation. Congress has recently intervened to overturn several Environmental Protection Agency waivers previously granted to California, which allowed the state to set its own vehicle emissions standards more stringent than federal levels. Lawmakers such as Sen. Shelley Moore Capito echoed support for the rollback, asserting that enforcement of the ACF would have resulted in widespread economic harm and job losses in various industries connected to the trucking sector.

As California prepares to formally unwind the ACF mandates, the development signals a broader debate over the pace and scope of environmental regulations—especially in sectors considered vital to commerce and supply chains. Advocates for free-market policy view the decision as a win for consumer choice and economic stability, while environmental groups may see it as a setback for climate action at the state level. The state’s next steps will be closely watched as officials determine how to balance environmental goals with practical and economic realities in the transportation industry.