House adopts conference report on FY2025 transportation bill, includes EV fee and funding changes
May 10, 2024 | HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont
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The Vermont House of Representatives adopted the committee of conference report on House Bill 868, the fiscal year 2025 transportation program, by voice vote during the morning session May 7, 2024. The Member from Guilford, speaking for the House conferees, summarized the compromise report and asked for the body's support.
According to the House presentation, H 868 "invests close to $879,000,000 in projects and programs" statewide, and includes a number of policy and funding adjustments reached in conference with the Senate. Key elements the conferee identified include $1,700,000 for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure aimed at people who do not own single-family homes (targeting workplaces and multiunit dwellings), an allocation of $600,000 to support town highway structures, and $70,000 in incentives for electric bicycles. The conferees also reported an agreement to increase the cap on Mobility Transportation Innovation (MTI) grants from $100,000 to $250,000.
During floor questioning, the Member from Northfield asked whether the EV infrastructure fee referenced in section 4 was in the bill and what the fee amount would be. The Member from Guilford clarified that the fee language is in section 36, that the start date was pushed back to January to align with the state climate action plan, and that the fee amounts are $89 for electric vehicles and $45 for hybrids. He also said protections were added to make those costs eligible for mileage-based program supports for lower-income Vermonters and that the fee is anticipated to be in effect for about two years while broader mileage-based user-fee work proceeds.
The House then voted to adopt the committee of conference report by voice vote; the Speaker declared the ayes to have it and the report was adopted. The conference report and an addendum are printed in the day's calendar and are available on the House and Senate transportation committee pages.
Next procedural steps recorded in the transcript were routine: the body completed the vote, suspended rules for other items later in the morning, and recessed for caucuses and lunch.
According to the House presentation, H 868 "invests close to $879,000,000 in projects and programs" statewide, and includes a number of policy and funding adjustments reached in conference with the Senate. Key elements the conferee identified include $1,700,000 for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure aimed at people who do not own single-family homes (targeting workplaces and multiunit dwellings), an allocation of $600,000 to support town highway structures, and $70,000 in incentives for electric bicycles. The conferees also reported an agreement to increase the cap on Mobility Transportation Innovation (MTI) grants from $100,000 to $250,000.
During floor questioning, the Member from Northfield asked whether the EV infrastructure fee referenced in section 4 was in the bill and what the fee amount would be. The Member from Guilford clarified that the fee language is in section 36, that the start date was pushed back to January to align with the state climate action plan, and that the fee amounts are $89 for electric vehicles and $45 for hybrids. He also said protections were added to make those costs eligible for mileage-based program supports for lower-income Vermonters and that the fee is anticipated to be in effect for about two years while broader mileage-based user-fee work proceeds.
The House then voted to adopt the committee of conference report by voice vote; the Speaker declared the ayes to have it and the report was adopted. The conference report and an addendum are printed in the day's calendar and are available on the House and Senate transportation committee pages.
Next procedural steps recorded in the transcript were routine: the body completed the vote, suspended rules for other items later in the morning, and recessed for caucuses and lunch.
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