Bill
S 2235
Extends the Diesel Emissions Reduction Program authorization to 2029, preserving grants to cut diesel emissions from school buses, trucks, and heavy equipment.
Note on sources and scope
- The materials provided appear to conflate two different bills that share the number “S.2235” in different jurisdictions and a third, unrelated title. The document set includes:
1. A U.S. Senate bill introduced July 10, 2025, titled the “Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025” (Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, primary sponsor), which amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize the Diesel Emissions Reduction Program (DERA).
2. A Commonwealth of Massachusetts Senate bill (S.D. 28 / Senate No. 2235) filed Jan 6, 2025 (Sen. William N. Brownsberger), titled “An Act relative to towing protections,” proposing consumer protections for towed vehicles.
3. An unrelated bill title shown at the top (“Prohibits and regulates the discovery and disclosure of immigration status; repealer”) does not appear in the text provided and is not reflected in the excerpts below.
This summary treats the two substantive texts (the federal DERA reauthorization and the Massachusetts towing protections) separately.
Purpose and intent
- To extend the statutory authorization period for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Program (DERA), which funds projects to reduce emissions from diesel engines (school buses, trucks, heavy equipment, etc.).
Key provision
- Amends Section 797(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16137(a)) by striking “2024” and inserting “2029,” thereby extending the program’s authorization through 2029.
Who is affected / likely impact
- Owners/operators of diesel vehicles and equipment eligible for DERA grants and rebates, state and local agencies that administer or apply for DERA funds, EPA and program partners.
- The amendment is procedural/authorizing (extends the program’s statutory life); no appropriation or specific funding levels are included in the text provided. Continued authorization allows Congress or the EPA to allocate funds and continue grant/rebate activity under DERA.
Procedural status (federal)
- Introduced in the U.S. Senate on July 10, 2025 (read twice; referred to Committee on Environment and Public Works).
- Committee action: Reported without amendment on Oct 29, 2025; placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders (Calendar No. 226).
Purpose and intent
- To add consumer protections and transparency requirements governing towing, removal, and storage of motor vehicles in Massachusetts.
Key provisions (amendments to Mass. Gen. Laws Chapters 159B §6B and 266 §120D)
- Prohibits additional, unspecified charges: adds phrase “No other charges may be assessed for the towing or storage of a vehicle.”
- Allows owners to remove personal property: motor vehicle storage facilities must allow owners to remove possessions not part of (or physically attached to) the car even if they cannot pay tow/storage fees in full.
- Payment options required: motor vehicle storage facilities and tow vehicles must have credit-card readers and accept credit/debit payments in addition to cash.
- Posting and documentation:
- Posted notice must include current removal and storage fees as defined by the department.
- Posted information must include a photograph of the vehicle parked/standing on the private way.
- Upon payment, the holder must provide an itemized receipt by removal and storage charges; receipt should include current fees.
- Enforcement language tightened: replaces discretionary language (“may, at his discretion”) with mandatory language (“shall”) in specified provision(s).
Who is affected / likely impact
- Vehicle owners and drivers in Massachusetts who have vehicles towed — greater payment flexibility, clearer fee information, right to retrieve personal property.
- Towing companies and motor vehicle storage facilities — operational requirements to accept card payments, to post fees and photograph evidence, to provide itemized receipts, and to refrain from imposing unspecified additional charges. Potential compliance costs (card readers, updated signage, training).
- Municipal authorities and departments overseeing towing fees (department referenced for fee definition) will have roles in defining and enforcing “current removal and storage fees.”
Procedural status (Massachusetts)
- Filed Jan 6, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 28 / Senate No. 2235). Referred to Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy; later referred to Codes. Print number 2235A issued June 9, 2025. Other entries show committee referrals and a hearing scheduled for May 6, 2025 in a docket entry.
If you want, I can:
- Provide a concise one-paragraph summary suitable for a legislative digest, or
- Draft a short explainer comparing how the Massachusetts towing provisions align with common towing consumer-protection statutes in other states.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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