DEF Act to provide 10-year legal shield for truckers and farmers following new EPA guidelines
New legislation would protect agricultural and trucking companies that take advantage of recently-issued diesel emissions guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
On July 14, the Diesel Engine Flexibility (DEF) Act was announced by Reps. Michelle Fischbach, Julie Fedorchak Don Davis, Jack Bergman, and Brad Finstad.
“Faulty DEF sensors and rigid EPA engine shutdown requirements are costing farmers, truckers, and operators time and money, often through no fault of their own. The DEF Act addresses this by strengthening monitoring capabilities, limiting engine shutdowns and performance reductions, and providing independent technicians with legal clarity to service their customers’ equipment,” lawmakers said in a news release announcing the bill.
The bill seeks to strengthen and codify recent action taken by the EPA to curb the impact of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system-related speed reductions and power losses that can cut into productivity for truckers and farmers. Lawmakers said that “without congressional action, these improvements remain subject to future administrative changes.”
Specifically the DEF Act:
- Creates a 10-year statutory safe harbor for EPA diesel emissions guidance issued in 2025 and 2026.
- Allows EPA to continue approving software updates, diagnostic improvements, recalls, and other administrative actions consistent with the guidance.
- Requires future emissions standards to include meaningful lead times, including at least three model years of applicability and five years before taking effect.
- Directs EPA to consider reducing unnecessary shutdowns, derates, and operational disruptions when developing future emissions regulations.
“Hardworking Minnesotans should not be penalized by bureaucracy when a sensor malfunctions. The DEF Act provides a vital, 10-year legal shield that protects our agricultural and trucking industries from unnecessary shutdowns, keeping supply chains moving while maintaining existing emissions standards,” said Fischbach. “This is a common-sense solution for rural America.”
“Farmers, truckers, and equipment operators depend on reliable equipment to keep our economy moving. They shouldn’t be sidelined by faulty sensors or unnecessary shutdowns that have nothing to do with actual emissions,” Fedorchak said. “The DEF Act brings commonsense certainty by preserving the EPA’s updated guidance in law while creating a stable regulatory framework for the next decade. It gives manufacturers, operators, and independent technicians the certainty they need to invest, innovate, and keep equipment running without sacrificing emissions performance.”
“When a tractor or truck sits idle, farmers, truckers, manufacturers, and small businesses feel the pain. They rely on reliable diesel-powered equipment every day. The Diesel Engine Flexibility Act would reduce unnecessary downtime caused by faulty emissions sensors while keeping every existing emissions standard in place, said Davis. “It’s a practical solution that supports jobs, strengthens our rural economy, and helps keep America fed and our communities growing.”
“Due to previous EPA guidelines, our nation’s farmers were required to rely on faulty DEF sensors and mandates. As a fourth-generation farmer, I am proud to join Congresswoman Fedorchak in introducing the DEF Act, which will codify the recently improved EPA guidance for diesel engines and vehicles, providing increased flexibility and clarity for folks in farm country – no matter the administration,” said Finstad.