As reported by the Sacramento Bee:

Seeking to curb climate-altering emissions from cars, the Assembly on Thursday passed bills to reward hybrid drivers and bolster penalties for air quality transgressions like those Volkswagen committed.

Plug-in hybrid vehicle drivers could continue shifting into the HOV lane under Assembly Bill 1964. The measure would extend beyond 2018 a program giving hybrid owners access to green stickers that allow them to use a lane otherwise reserved for cars with multiple passengers. The decals would remain available until hybrids comprised 8.6 percent of market share in California for two consecutive years.

“These stickers have been shown to incentivize the purchase of zero-emission vehicles,” said Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica.

Business-aligned Democrats objected to the bill, saying it would benefit wealthier Californians and clog carpool lanes at the expense of …