Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs law to safeguard state from EV requirements

Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) signed a new law on Thursday that safeguards Ohio from multiple vehicle requirements, including prohibiting a state agency from adopting the California emission standards for motor vehicles.

The new law stops the state from signing on to or taking steps to mandate emissions standards through emergency protocols established in the Clean Air Act of 1970. However, the law is controversial because it also allows natural gas companies to place more costs on consumers via a last-minute amendment.

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“This legislation will prevent undue burdens on our residents, particularly those in low-income communities who may struggle with the higher costs of transitioning to electric vehicles,” state GOP Rep. Brett Hillyer told the Center Square. “Ohio is not California and, therefore, should not be treated as such.”

The law also stops cities and towns from restricting the use or sale of a vehicle based on its fuel source, and it gives residents a choice in the type of automobile, lawn equipment, or other motorized equipment they want.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine pauses as he speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at The Ohio Governor’s Residence in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Carolyn Kaster/AP

The governor’s signature of the law occurred just before the 10-day window closed for signing or vetoing the legislation. The bill was passed by the General Assembly earlier this month after it was introduced in June. The window to sign or veto the bill would have closed on Friday.

DeWine also approved a new law that amends a section of the Ohio Revised Code, which largely affects the reporting requirements for government employees who witness instances of waste, fraud, or abuse.

A separate and more controversial bill about transgender medicine in sports is still awaiting the governor’s attention, though DeWine said he would make a decision on the bill this week.

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The bill, titled Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation, or SAFE, Act, requires transgender athletes to compete in the sport of their biological sex and prevents healthcare providers from utilizing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or invasive surgeries to treat gender dysphoria in minors.

“I think I have a real obligation to try to get this right,” DeWine told local Ohio outlet WHIO TV 7. “It is very, very, very important.”