To amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure under that Act, and for other purposes.
HB1346, titled the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, would amend the Clean Air Act to expand the availability of gasoline-ethanol blends, especially E15 and other blends containing 10 to 15 percent ethanol. The bill changes how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements, which are used to control evaporative emissions and can limit the sale of higher-ethanol fuel during the summer ozone season. It would allow certain fuels or fuel additives to be introduced into commerce if they meet existing waiver conditions except for RVP limits, and it would direct EPA to apply the revised RVP framework to states that had previously received certain waiver-based limitations.
The bill also addresses Renewable Fuel Standard compliance credits for small refineries. It would restore or reassign certain credits tied to 2016, 2017, and 2018 compliance years for small refineries that had retired credits and had outstanding or denied hardship petitions as of specified dates. Those credits could either be returned to the refinery for future compliance use or placed into the refinery’s EPA Moderated Transaction System account.
In practical terms, the bill would preempt or override some state-level and EPA-applied restrictions on ethanol-blended gasoline during high ozone season, making it easier for retailers and consumers to access higher-ethanol fuel nationwide. It would also provide targeted regulatory relief to small refineries by revisiting prior compliance-credit outcomes under the Renewable Fuel Program. The main statutes affected are sections 211(f), 211(h), and 211(o) of the Clean Air Act.
The overall sentiment reflected by the bill’s sponsorship is strongly supportive of ethanol fuel access, consumer choice, and fuel retailer flexibility. The bill has broad bipartisan and regional sponsorship, including members from agricultural and fuel-producing states, which suggests a coalition favoring expanded ethanol markets and relief for small refineries. No committee debate or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct transcript evidence of opposition or amendment activity in the materials supplied.
Likely points of contention are the environmental and regulatory implications of loosening RVP restrictions and revisiting small-refinery credit obligations. Supporters are likely to emphasize lower fuel costs, expanded market access for ethanol, and relief for retailers and refiners, while critics may argue the bill weakens emissions controls, complicates state implementation of air-quality rules, or grants retroactive compliance relief to refineries. The most affected parties would be fuel retailers, ethanol producers, small refineries, state regulators, and the EPA.
HB1346 would amend the Clean Air Act to broaden the sale and distribution of gasoline-ethanol blends containing 10 to 15 percent ethanol, including during periods when Reid Vapor Pressure limits currently restrict those fuels. It would also alter EPA administration of waiver and RVP provisions so that certain previously limited fuels can be sold if they satisfy other applicable requirements. In addition, the bill would revive or reallocate Renewable Fuel Standard compliance credits for certain small refineries tied to 2016-2018 petitions and retired credits, affecting refinery compliance obligations and EPA credit accounting under the EMTS system.
The bill appears generally favorable to ethanol use, consumer fuel choice, and fuel retailer flexibility, with a bipartisan and geographically broad group of House sponsors. The sponsor list suggests support from lawmakers representing agricultural, refinery, and Midwest states that are often aligned with ethanol policy. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no direct evidence of formal opposition or support beyond the bill’s introduction and sponsorship pattern.
The main policy dispute is likely between supporters of expanded ethanol access and critics concerned about air-quality impacts and federal preemption of state fuel rules. Supporters would likely argue the bill reduces fuel costs, improves consumer choice, and helps retailers sell E15 and similar blends more broadly. Opponents may focus on the bill’s relaxation of Reid Vapor Pressure constraints, potential effects on ozone-season emissions, and the retroactive restoration of small-refinery credits, which could be viewed as preferential treatment or a weakening of Renewable Fuel Standard enforcement.