Border Smog Reduction Act of 1998
Public Law 105-286 · H.R. 8 · 105th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 27, 1998 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA-49)
Cosponsors (18): Rep. Joe Barton, Rep. Bob Filner,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Border Smog Reduction Act of 1998 - Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit noncommercial motor vehicles registered in a foreign country and operated by U.S. citizens, aliens who are permanent residents, or holders of employment or educational visas from entering a Serious ozone nonattainment area from a foreign country bordering the United States and contiguous to such area more than twice in a single calendar-month period if State law has requirements for the inspection and maintenance of such vehicles in such an area. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to operators who present documentation at the border entry point establishing the vehicle's compliance with such requirements.
Authorizes civil penalties to be imposed for violation of such prohibition. Makes such prohibition inapplicable in States which elect to be exempt. Makes such prohibition inapplicable in a State and authorizes the President to implement an alternative approach if: (1) a State Governor submits a description of an alternative approach to facilitate compliance by foreign-registered vehicles with inspection and maintenance requirements that are related to air pollutant emissions, that are in effect under the implementation plan in the area, and that apply to vehicles of the same types and model years as the foreign-registered vehicles; and (2) the President approves such approach.
Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on a comparison of the potential impact of this Act on air quality in ozone nonattainment areas with the impact in those areas of the increase in vehicles engaged in commerce operating in the United States and registered in, or operated from, Mexico, as a result of the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Health and Environment Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.
- Oct 27, 1998Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-286.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 15, 1998PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 7, 1998Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Bliley moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
- Oct 5, 1998FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 3739 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Sep 28, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Sep 23, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Jul 21, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Jul 20, 1998FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Bilbray moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Jun 24, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Jun 19, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Jan 22, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Jan 7, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.