California Seeks New Tool to Replace Clean Air Authority Revoked by Trump

A bill would give state air regulators power to hold ports, warehouses and railyards accountable for pollution they attract to nearby communities.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:48pm

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When the Trump administration revoked California's authority to mandate electric vehicles and pull back federal power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, it undermined the state's most effective tools for cleaning up air pollution. A new bill moving through the California Legislature would give air regulators the authority to hold ports, warehouses and railyards accountable for the pollution they draw to nearby communities, using a regulatory tool called the indirect source rule.

Why it matters

California has some of the highest asthma rates in the country due to the diesel exhaust from ships, trains and trucks moving goods through the state's ports, railyards and warehouses. The state's ability to regulate these pollution sources has been severely limited by the Trump administration's rollback of clean air regulations, putting public health at risk. The proposed legislation aims to fill that gap and give California more tools to combat the drastic impact of the federal policy changes.

The details

The indirect source rule essentially holds operational sites responsible for the pollution they attract, even if they don't directly own the trucks and trains that serve them. While the tool has faced legal challenges, courts have consistently ruled in favor of air regulators, finding that the rules target facilities rather than vehicles. However, state air board leaders have been cautious about moving forward without clearer legal authority, which the new bill would provide.

  • In 2005, the San Joaquin Valley Air District was the first to adopt an indirect source rule.
  • In 2023, the South Coast Air Quality Management District developed an indirect source rule for warehouses, which was then challenged in court by the California Trucking Association.
  • Last year, the California Air Resources Board was weighing indirect source rules as part of a broader response to federal rollbacks of clean air regulations.

The players

Robert Garcia

A Democratic state assemblymember who represents parts of San Bernardino County and authored the bill to give California air regulators authority to use indirect source rules.

Liane Randolph

The former chair of the California Air Resources Board, who said the board was weighing indirect source rules as one piece of a broader response to federal rollbacks of clean air regulations.

South Coast Air Quality Management District

The air district that developed the Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) program, an indirect source rule targeting large warehouses in Southern California.

California Trucking Association

A business group that sued the South Coast Air Quality Management District over its indirect source rule for warehouses, making arguments similar to those used by the National Association of Home Builders in a previous lawsuit.

California Business Roundtable

A business group that has warned the proposed legislation would give state regulators sweeping new economic authority.

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What they’re saying

“This bill represents essentially providing (the California Air Resources Board) and the other regulatory agencies with the greatest ability to control California's economy of any of the bills that we have seen, especially since cap-and-trade.”

— Rob Lapsley, President, California Business Roundtable (CalMatters)

“When families have to choose between buying their inhaler from their diesel‑induced asthma and putting food on their table, that's a cost of living issue.”

— Ada Waelder, Policy Advocate, Earthjustice (CalMatters)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.