Senate committee advances vehicle-inspection overhaul: new cars exempt three years, air-quality testing removed pending federal waiver

The Senate Finance Committee approved a committee amendment that narrows vehicle inspections to core safety items, exempts new vehicles from inspection for roughly three years, and directs the Department of Environmental Services to seek a federal waiver to remove certain air-quality testing requirements.

Under the amendment, new cars would be inspected at purchase and then not again for about three years, reflecting a low failure rate on new vehicles and typical dealer warranties. Vehicles older than three years would return to annual inspections focused on safety items such as brakes and tires; the amendment would drop onboard diagnostic (OBD) and air-quality inspection provisions from the routine check.

The amendment requires DES to file a waiver with federal authorities within six months—by Jan. 1, 2026—and to prepare draft rules as part of that process. The bill as amended would act on Jan. 1, 2027, but the timeline allows legislative adjustments if federal authorities object.

Senator Waters commended the amendment as “a good common sense and practical solution,” and Senator DeWine said it returns the program “to being a safety program.” A sponsor noted the amendment would yield about $4,000,000 back to the highway safety fund at the end of the biennium.

The committee approved the amendment by voice vote and said it would include any remaining rate or fee changes when the package is revisited at the next floor vote.

Ending: The committee advanced the amendment and signaled additional technical adjustments may be recorded before the package returns for final consideration.