Texans spend more than $335 million each year on vehicle emissions testing, a program that delivers little measurable benefit but continues to burden millions of drivers in 17 counties. On top of direct fees, Texans lose an estimated 30+ million hours annually traveling to and waiting for inspections, time that could be spent with family or at work. Safety inspections have already been eliminated statewide, yet emissions checks remain, even though 95% of vehicles pass on the first attempt and newer cars almost never fail. The result is a costly, time-consuming system that acts as a hidden tax on Texans.

This report outlines a commonsense solution: repeal the emissions testing mandate in the Texas Health and Safety Code, or at minimum exempt vehicles eight years old or newer. A short phase-out would give Texas the ability to work with the EPA to update our State Implementation Plan, ensuring compliance with federal law while ending a wasteful program.

Eliminating emissions testing is not a question of health but of liberty. By removing it, lawmakers can return hundreds of millions of dollars and millions of hours of time back to hardworking Texans.