California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1213 into law this week, a measure that brings pricing transparency to the zero-emission truck market and ensures state subsidies lead to lower costs for fleets. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Authored by Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes, D-Colton, the law requires OEMs to submit vehicle pricing information, including suggested retail prices, as a condition of maintaining eligibility for state incentive programs, such as the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project.
It passed the legislature without a single no vote and drew backing from the Port of Long Beach and business groups.
“California is making significant investments in our clean transportation future, and taxpayers and fleet operators deserve to know those investments are delivering real value,” said Reyes. “SB 1213 brings greater transparency and accountability to the clean truck market so we can better understand what these vehicles actually cost and help drive those costs down over time.”
According to research from the International Council on Clean Transportation, electric truck prices in the U.S. have risen by 32%, even as prices in Europe have fallen by 27%.
Craig Segall, a former California Air Resources Board official, said the pricing disparity has left fleets paying more than they should, calling the law a step toward a “fairer market, and lower costs for drivers.”
SB 1213 directs CARB to annually reevaluate voucher caps for zero-emission trucks, particularly for fleets serving disadvantaged communities. State agencies will have until 2028 to study additional financing options — such as low-cost loans and residual-value guarantees — designed to make it easier for fleets to afford the switch.
California is among seven states, joining Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, that have already issued guidelines for electric truck price-data reporting.
The bill was signed as part of a broader package of six EV-related measures Newsom approved, including bills to speed up public charger installation, cut permitting rules for charging infrastructure projects, and expand charging access at apartments and mixed-use housing.
Industry and advocacy groups commended the bill.
Guillermo Ortiz, senior clean vehicles advocate at Natural Resources Defense Council, framed it as a step toward growing the market. “Scale requires capital, and capital requires clarity,” Ortiz said, adding that SB 1213 would help state incentives go further and draw in private investment, giving fleets a more stable alternative to volatile diesel prices while benefiting climate goals.
Sue Gander, director of U.S. Transportation at the World Resources Institute, said price transparency is critical to making zero-emission trucks and buses more affordable, and that California’s new law positions the state as a leader other states can look to.
Heavy-duty vehicles remain among the biggest sources of roadway pollution, Gander said, yet their high upfront cost has kept many buyers from switching to cleaner options. She added that the bill would give the state a new tool to bring down electrification costs and expand access to cleaner air.
The bill also helped secure $135 million in funding for California’s zero-emission truck voucher program by creating safeguards to ensure that money is used responsibly and effectively.
