HB 1003 Utah House · 2025 First Special Session

Emissions Inspection Amendments

This bill exempts specific Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles from Utah's emissions inspection requirements because they've already been remediated under settlement agreements. It directly affects owners of listed models, including 2.0L and 3.0L diesel engines from 2009-2016 (e.g., Jetta, Passat, Touareg, Audi Q7). The key mechanism removes the need for emissions testing on these vehicles during registration, as they already comply with emissions standards per federal settlements. The bill also clarifies that restored-modified vehicles cannot be denied inspections based solely on engine modifications that don’t increase emissions. This change applies to vehicles registered in Utah counties with emissions programs.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

House Passage

Oct 2025

Senate Passage

Oct 2025

Signed into Law

Oct 2025

Introduced Oct 6, 2025 Signed Oct 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 5 edits · Oct 14, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's vehicle emissions inspection laws to lower the weight thresholds for vehicles that must undergo emissions testing, expanding the number of vehicles subject to inspection. It also adds specific exemptions for restored-modified vehicles, Volkswagen diesel vehicles covered by consent decrees, and clarifies inspection frequency rules for newer vehicles.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of vehicles subject to emissions testing by lowering the gross vehicle weight rating threshold from 14,001 pounds to 12,001 pounds for certain vehicles, meaning more vehicles will now require emissions inspection.

ELIGIBILITY

Lowered the gross vehicle weight rating threshold for pickups and other vehicles from 14,001 pounds to 12,001 pounds, requiring more vehicles to undergo emissions testing.

Added specific exemptions for restored-modified vehicles, allowing counties to not refuse inspections based solely on modifications if they don't increase emissions and use newer engines.

Added explicit exemptions for Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles covered by the EPA consent decrees, preventing registration denial based solely on defeat devices.

REQUIREMENT

Changed emissions inspection frequency requirements for diesel vehicles, lowering the weight threshold from 16,000 pounds to 14,000 pounds for vehicles requiring computerized or visual inspections.

TIMELINE

Added retrospective operation effective from July 1, 2025, applying changes to vehicles registered after that date.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Oct 14, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Oct 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

lower

Oct 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Oct 6, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Oct 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Oct 6, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor