HB1675: establishing a surcharge collected through E-Z Pass for electric vehicles as an alternative road toll.

HB 1675-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

2022 SESSION

22-2481

11/10

HOUSE BILL 1675-FN-A

AN ACT establishing a surcharge collected through E-Z Pass for electric vehicles as an alternative road toll.

SPONSORS: Rep. Thompson, Coos 1; Rep. P. Schmidt, Straf. 19

COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a surcharge collected through E-Z Pass for electric vehicles as an alternative road toll. The provisions are repealed in 2025.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2481

11/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT establishing a surcharge collected through E-Z Pass for electric vehicles as an alternative road toll.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Road Toll; Alternative Road Toll for Electric Vehicles. Amend RSA 260 by inserting after section 32-c the following new section:

260:32-d Alternative Road Toll for Electric Vehicles. There is hereby established an additional $.50 fee, to be assessed at every toll within the interagency toll collection system in New Hampshire, as defined in RSA 237:16-a, III, on any transponder attached to an electric vehicle, as defined in RSA 236:132, II, registered within this state. Such toll charge shall be in addition to any toll charge assessed for any non-electric motor vehicle. Any toll charge collected pursuant to this section shall deposited into the highway fund pursuant to RSA 260:35, less apportionment A distributions under RSA 235:23, I.

2 New Section; Additional Use of E-Z Pass System; Alternative Road Toll. Amend RSA 237 by inserting after section 16-g the following new section:

237:16-h Additional Use of E-Z Pass System; Alternative Road Toll. The commissioner shall approve the use of the E-Z Pass system for the payment of the alternative road toll for electric vehicles established pursuant to RSA 260:32-d.

3 Prospective Repeal. The following are repealed:

I. RSA 260:32-d, relative to the alternative road toll for electric vehicles.

II. RSA 237:16-h, relative to additional use of the E-Z Pass system for alternative road tolls.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect January 2, 2025.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect January 1, 2023.

LBA

22-2481

Redraft 12/28/21

HB 1675-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT establishing a surcharge collected through E-Z Pass for electric vehicles as an alternative road toll.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2022

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

[ ] General [ ] Education [ X ] Highway [ X ] Other - Turnpike Fund

LOCAL:

Revenue

$0

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective January 1, 2023, with a prospective repeal January 2, 2025, establishes an additional $0.50 fee to be assessed at every toll within the interagency toll collection system in the state on any transponder attached to an electric vehicle. The Department of Transportation states revisions (e.g., changes to the E-ZPass account system, web site, revised applications, file process for the transferring funds) and their direct cost to the E-ZPass system to incorporate this change is indeterminable. The Department also states there may be increased administrative efforts needed relative to customer service issues, with costs indeterminable, during the period of the additional fee (January 2023 – December 2025).

While this bill will increase revenue to the state in FY 2023, FY 2024, and FY 2025, the amount is indeterminable as neither the Department of Transportation nor the Department of Safety have data relative to electric vehicle turnpike system usage. Also, pursuant to RSA 235:23 (“Apportionment A”), 12 percent of road toll and motor vehicle fees collected are distributed to municipalities, therefore, under this bill state expenditures and local revenue would increase in FY 2024, FY 2025, and FY 2026, by an indeterminable amount. For informational purposes, the Department of Safety reports there are approximately 2,800 registered electric vehicles in the state (2021).

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety and Department of Transportation