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Committee debates electric-vehicle charging language; proposes inspections follow industry standards and agency rules
Summary
Members considered reinstating two sections on electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) but revised inspection requirements: instead of mandating annual inspections, the amendment would require testing and inspection "in accordance with industry standards" and the secretary's rules.
Members of the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources discussed an amendment to restore two sections of the draft bill addressing electric vehicle charging equipment, and adjusted the language governing inspections.
The amendment would reinstate the language in new sections 23 and 24 related to electric vehicle supply equipment but remove a line that had required those devices to be "tested and inspected at least once annually." In its place the committee considered language requiring that charging equipment be "tested and inspected in accordance with industry standards and as required by the rules and regulations adopted by the secretary."
Why it matters: The committee reasoned the change gives regulatory authorities and industry flexibility as technology and national standards evolve. Committee speakers said some current chargers are solid-state designs and that certified inspectors are limited, so a rigid annual inspection mandate might not match technical realities.
Committee discussion and rationale
A committee member introduced the amendment as restoring the EV language but revising the inspection requirement. "This proposed amendment would restore the language that had been in new section 23 and 24 regarding electric vehicle supply equipment," the member said, and added the change would remove the explicit annual inspection requirement and instead require inspections "in accordance with industry standards" and the secretary's rules.
Members said they supported a practical approach that allows the department to adopt standards and align inspection intervals and methods with recognized industry practice and rulemaking authority rather than a fixed annual mandate.
Next steps
Committee leaders asked staff and members to review the revised language and return with any technical or drafting refinements. No formal vote was recorded in the transcript excerpt; members planned to continue the conversation at a later conference meeting.
Ending
The committee left the EVSE language under consideration; the adopted wording would require testing and inspection to follow industry standards and the secretary's rules rather than specifying a required annual inspection schedule.
