Bill would create voucher to fix cars that fail

Front Range residents who drive old cars that cannot pass Colorado’s emissions inspections could receive financial help for repairs if a bill before the state legislature is approved.

The bill, SB24-095, would provide an $850 voucher that could be redeemed at qualified mechanics if a resident’s car or pickup truck could not pass the emissions inspection and the resident qualified for an economic hardship waiver — based on income and the age of the vehicle — through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The voucher is one provision in a multi-pronged bill, sponsored by Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, aimed at reducing the state’s ozone pollution.

The program would be funded by fees collected through the state’s highway users tax fund, and it would be available to people who live in the nine-county Front Range region that is in violation of federal air quality standards. The program would dissolve once Colorado meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

The EPA designated the region as in severe non-attainment in 2022, and it will take years to come back into compliance.

Cars and trucks are significant contributors to the state’s ozone pollution, releasing tons of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides annually. Those toxins combine on hot summer days to form smog.

Research shows that older and poorly maintained cars and pickups can contribute up to 100 times more pollution than other cars, Kirkmeyer said. And those vehicles often are driven by lower-income families who may not be able to afford expensive auto repairs or new cars.

“If we can help people get their vehicles fixed and knock that down, it would help the metro area,” she said. “Our issues in the metro area are tied to light-duty vehicles — cars and trucks.”

The bill also would create a rebate program to increase the use of electric lawn and garden equipment. The rebates would return up to 30% of the cost of a piece of equipment or $150, whichever was less, according to the bill.