Legislation Passed
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) April 25 signed a law to increase vehicle registration fees, which will be used to fund the State Highway Patrol so revenue isn’t diverted from the state’s transportation fund. The measure also eliminates a registration discount received by alternative fuel vehicles, including electric vehicles.

Legislation Progressing
A Minnesota amendment to dedicate an existing sales tax on auto-part sales and repairs to the state’s transportation fund received initial approval in the House Transportation Committee. The measure passed April 26 along party lines, with committee Republicans supporting the bill and Democratic-Farmer-Laborers (DFL) voting against it. If approved by the legislature and voters, the amendment would generate approximately $250 million annually. The tax would be transferred gradually, with 60 percent dedicated to transportation funds beginning in 2021, growing to 100 percent by 2025.

Coming Up…
Connecticut House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz (D-Berlin) intends to call a vote the week of April 30 on legislation that would implement electronic highway tolls to raise needed transportation funds.

Read details about these bills and more on TIAC’s “State Transportation Funding Legislation” page.