HB 153 — DOT/DEQ to Study Safety and Emissions Inspections.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 21 HOUSE BILL 153 Committee Substitute Favorable 4/9/25 Short Title:

DOT/DEQIncrease toVehicle Study Safety andInspection EmissionsFee. Inspec.

Representatives Penny and Moss (Primary Sponsors).

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

FebruaryTransportation, 21,if 2025favorable, AFinance, BILLif TOfavorable, BERules, ENTITLEDCalendar, ANand ACTOperations TOof DIRECTthe THEHouse NORTHFebruary CAROLINA21, DEPARTMENT2025 OFA TRANSPORTATIONBILL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO STUDYBE THEENTITLED NORTHANACT CAROLINAINCREASINGTHEFEEFORPERFORMINGAVEHICLESAFETYINSPECTION. SAFETY AND EMISSIONS INSPECTION PROGRAM.

TheG.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Quality shall jointly study the North Carolina Safety and Emissions Inspection Program, including whether the frequency of vehicle safety and emissions inspections can be decreased or eliminated and potential changes to the program that would add to its efficiency in light of motor vehicle modernization, driver commute trends, and relevant changes to State and federal programs related to motor vehicle safety and emissions inspections.

The20-183.7 Departmentsreads shallas includerewritten: all of the following in their report:

(1)"§ North20-183.7. Carolina Safety and Emissions Inspections Program background.

(2)Fees Afor summaryperforming ofan otherinspection stateand safetyissuing andan emissionselectronic programs,inspection asauthorization applicable.to a vehicle;

(3)use Aof motorcivil vehiclepenalties. inspection analysis process description.

(4)(a) AFee financialAmount. analysis of the program, including the following, at a minimum:

a.– When a fee applies to an inspection of a vehicle or the issuance of an electronic inspection authorization, the fee must be collected.

StateThe safetyfollowing fees apply to an inspection fees.of a vehicle and the issuance of an electronic inspection authorization:

b.Type Inspection Authorization Safety Only $12.75$29.15 $ .85 Emissions and Safety 23.7540.15 6.25.

StateThe emissionsfee for performing an inspection fees.of a vehicle applies when an inspection is performed, regardless of whether the vehicle passes the inspection.

c.The fee for an electronic inspection authorization applies when an electronic inspection authorization is issued to a vehicle.

FeeThe generationfee for inspecting after-factory tinted windows shall be ten dollars ($10.00), and usethe summaries.fee applies only to an inspection performed with a light meter after a safety inspection mechanic determined that the window had after-factory tint.

d.A safetyinspection mechanic shall not inspect an after-factory tinted window of a vehicle for which the Division has issued a medical exception permit pursuant to G.S.

Program20-127(f). projections or issues related to fee receipts moving forward.

(5)A Currentvehicle programthat statisticsis inspected at an inspection station and projections.fails the inspection is entitled to be reinspected at the same station at any time within 60 days of the failed inspection without paying another inspection fee.

(6)The Programinspection projectionsfee duefor toan motoremissions vehicleand modernization.safety inspection set out in this subsection is the maximum amount that an inspection station or an inspection mechanic may charge for an emissions and safety inspection of a vehicle.

(7)An Theinspection Departmentsstation shallor conductan andinspection summarizemechanic resultsmay fromcharge athe motormaximum vehicleamount safetyor andany lesser amount for an emissions inspectionsand stationsafety survey.inspection of a vehicle.

(8) The Departmentsinspection shallfee alsofor considera publicsafety safety,only airinspection quality,set savingsout toin vehicleowners,impactsonStaterevenuetrends,this andpotentialeffectssubsection tomotormay vehiclenot inspectionbe stationincreased industryor withindecreased. this State.

(9)The Legislativeauthorization recommendations,fees includingset changesout toin safetythis andsubsection emissionsmay inspectionsnot programbe exceptionsincreased andor changesdecreased. to inspection fee amounts and their distribution, as applicable.

(10)…." AnySECTION other2. information, issues, recommendations, or topics the Departments deem relevant.

NoThis lateract thanbecomes Marcheffective October 1, 2026,2025. the Departments shall jointly submit their report to the North Carolina General Assembly and the Fiscal Research Division and shall jointly report their findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee.

SECTION*H153-v-1* 2.

This act is effective when it becomes law.

*H153-v-2*