Legislature passes bill modifying electric vehicle registration fees for road maintenance funding – St George News

ST. GEORGE — A invoice modifying the state’s present road-use charges for electrical autos handed the Legislature earlier this month. The aim of the invoice is to get the drivers of hybrid and electrical autos to “pay their fair proportion” for the price of street upkeep.

HB 186, titled “Vehicle Registration Amendments,” unanimously handed the Senate on Feb. 18 and is within the technique of heading to the governor’s desk for signing. Previous to that the invoice handed the Home by a 61-11 vote.

Set to take impact in 2023, HB 186 will modify the state’s present Street Consumer Cost (RUC) program as a approach to assist additional keep state funds going for street upkeep.

Income from the gasoline tax that historically has fueled the state’s street upkeep fund has decreased in recent times on account of using extra fuel-efficient autos and the adoption of alternative-fuel autos. In these circumstances, drivers are both shopping for much less gasoline or no gasoline.

The Legislature handed a hike in the state gas tax in 2015 and Rep. Kay Kristofferson of Lehi proposed a invoice addressing a change in road-use fees for hybrid and electric vehicles in 2021 to assist add to dwindling gasoline tax revenues. That invoice didn’t move and was seen by some environmental teams as doubtlessly discouraging Utahns from shopping for alternatively-fueled vehicles.

Sen. Wayne Harper of Taylorsville, the Senate sponsor of HB 186, advised the Senate on Feb. 17 that lawmakers had met with varied stakeholders following the defeat of Kristofferson’s invoice in an effort to create new laws deal with the matter. This resulted in HB 186, which was introduced forth by Rep. Raymond Ward of Bountiful.

“I believe its a really accountable invoice that Rep. Ward and a bunch of different individuals labored on to get by and guarantee we adequately fund our transportation system whereas recognizing the actual fact EVs (electrical autos) will change into increasingly more part of the fleet.”

Presently, electrical autos are estimated to make up ½ of 1% of the autos utilized in Utah

Electrical automobile customers at present pay $120 per yr once they register with the state. In the event that they don’t drive that a lot, an electrical automobile driver might enter the state’s RUC program as an alternative the place they pay 1.5 cents per mile with an general cap of $120. Drivers lower your expenses in the event that they drive 8,000 miles or much less.

Solely about 1 in each 10 electrical autos is registered with the RUC program, as most drivers select to pay the $120 price as an alternative.

Below HB 186, beginning Jan. 1, 2023, the road-use cost drops to 1 cent per mile road-use price and caps at $130.25.

In 2026, street use goes to 1.25 cents per mile with a cap of $180 and stays there till 2032 when the RUC fee goes to 1.5 cents per mile and a $240 cap.

Whereas the invoice is designed to assist keep a secure stage of street funding, it was additionally crafted in akin to approach as to not discourage individuals from shopping for a hybrid or electrical automobile, Ward said during a Feb. 14 Senate committee hearing. He additionally mentioned electrical autos include environmental advantages that shouldn’t be missed.

HB 186 additionally garnered the help of the Utah Taxpayers Affiliation and Utah Clear Power.

Whereas the invoice sailed by the Senate with no opposition, a number of members of the Home who voted in opposition to it, together with three legislators who signify elements of Southern Utah. They had been Reps. Phil Lyman, Rex Shipp and Travis Seegmiller.

Lyman mentioned he was involved concerning the invoice’s affect on rural Utahns since they drive farther to achieve important providers than these in city facilities do. This led to his asking Ward for clarification concerning the road-use price’s cap.

Ward mentioned somebody can both pay the set registration price, or undergo the RUC program. Annual street use charges will probably be capped on the set registration price and never go above that. If somebody drives lower than that, they find yourself pay much less, Ward mentioned.

“I do fear concerning the rural communities,” Lyman mentioned.

Take a look at all of St. George Information’ protection of the 2022 Utah Legislature here.

For a whole record of contacts for Southern Utah representatives and senators, click here.

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