California Bill Advances a Faster Path to CARB Approval
A California bill would let makers sell qualifying emissions parts under conditional approval while CARB review continues, Aftermarket Matters reported.
AI-generated illustration for this story; not a photograph.
SB 1069, a SEMA-backed California bill that would speed aftermarket emissions parts toward the market, passed the Assembly Transportation Committee unanimously and moved on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, Aftermarket Matters reported from Sacramento on July 1, 2026. The bill's author is state Sen. Tim Grayson, a Concord Democrat, according to the outlet.
Lawmakers amended the bill to add a new conditional approval process for qualifying aftermarket parts, according to SEMA in a news release cited by Aftermarket Matters. Right now, a manufacturer often waits months or years for a final Executive Order from the California Air Resources Board before it can legally sell a part in the state, the outlet reported. Under the amended bill, a manufacturer that files a complete EO application backed by emissions testing and technical documentation could get conditional approval to sell, advertise and install that product while CARB's review is still open.
SEMA framed the change in plain business terms. The new approach, the group said in its release, lets companies "begin generating revenue while CARB's review is ongoing, helping manufacturers recover development and compliance costs sooner." Not every application clears the bar, though — a manufacturer also needs a demonstrated track record of compliance through prior participation in CARB's EO program, per the release. A complete application alone isn't enough.
Aftermarket Matters listed Christian Robinson, SEMA's senior director for state government affairs, as the contact for further detail on the bill.
What it means at the parts counter
Nothing changes on the shelf yet. SB 1069 hasn't reached the Assembly floor, let alone the governor's desk. It cleared one committee and sits in another. A reman engine or transmission itself isn't the target here; those come rebuilt to the emissions spec the vehicle already carried. The parts this bill touches are the aftermarket emissions add-ons, things like catalytic converters and EGR components, that a shop might install alongside a reman swap. A shop that special-orders one of those parts for a California customer can confirm with the manufacturer whether it actually has an EO on file or is only pursuing conditional approval, since the new pathway still requires a track record in CARB's program, not just a pending application.
The number
SB 1069: the bill number, now before the
California Assembly's Appropriations Committee after clearing the Assembly Transportation Committee on a unanimous vote, Aftermarket Matters reported from Sacramento on July 1, 2026.
Terms
- **Reman:** remanufactured — torn down, machined to spec, rebuilt with new wear parts, tested.
FAQ
What does SB 1069 do for aftermarket emissions parts?
SB 1069, authored by state Sen. Tim Grayson, would let manufacturers sell, advertise and install qualifying aftermarket emissions parts under conditional approval while CARB's Executive Order review is still open, according to Aftermarket Matters, citing a SEMA news release.
Where does the bill stand in the legislature?
The bill passed the Assembly Transportation Committee unanimously and moved to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, Aftermarket Matters reported from Sacramento on July 1, 2026.
What must a manufacturer submit to qualify for conditional approval?
A complete Executive Order application backed by emissions testing and technical documentation, plus a demonstrated track record of compliance through prior participation in CARB's EO program, according to SEMA's release as cited by Aftermarket Matters.
The bill's next stop is the
Assembly Appropriations Committee. No hearing date for that committee appears in Aftermarket Matters' report.
Reported with AI assistance from public sources; reviewed before publication.
