Missouri state lawmakers May 4 approved $2.8 billion in bonds and general fund appropriations for improvements to Interstate 70. Gov. Mike Parson (R), who called for the investments in his annual State of the State address earlier this year, is expected to sign the bill into law. The approved funding matches estimated costs for the project.
That same day Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed into law a bill extending the state’s variable-rate indexing on motor fuels (with changes linked to inflation and limited to a one cent-per-year increase) for an additional three years. The extension gives policymakers time to consider new, long-term revenue options and will generate an additional $90 million in revenue. The new law calls for the creation of a road funding task force to evaluate the impact of fees on alternative fuel vehicles.
Hawaii lawmakers also sent legislation to the governor on May 4 that eliminates the $50 annual state registration fee for electric vehicles and establishes the option for electric vehicle drivers to pay $8 per 1,000 miles (or 0.8 cents per mile) and no more than $50 annually. If enacted the road usage charge option will begin July 1, 2025.
Additionally, Georgia legislation that applies state gas tax rates to electricity sold or given at charging stations was signed by Gov. Brian Kemp (R) May 2. The new law defines a gallon of gas as equivalent to 11 kilowatt-hours. The state gas tax is currently 31.2 cents-per-gallon.
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