West Virginia and South Dakota lawmakers have introduced legislation that prevents any county or city in either state from limiting access to internal combustion engines (ICE) and related technology. Other states (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina) have already passed similar legislation and resolutions.
The bill was introduced in West Virginia by Gary Howell, a Republican delegate who is also chairman emeritus of SEMA's State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Howell's bill aims to prevent limiting access to engines powered by any particular source, not just fossil fuels. In South Dakota, the bill is awaiting consideration by the House Local Government Committee.
SEMA has come out in support of both states' bills, claiming that the states' residents, not their governments, should be allowed to choose the type of vehicle technology that best serves them.
