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JBC authorizes staff to draft bill to accelerate bridge-and-tunnel impact fee increase
Summary
Committee approved staff authority to draft a bill that would speed up scheduled increases to the bridge-and-tunnel impact fee on special fuels and extend an interstate heavy‑truck maintenance tax exemption through 2029; the change would increase cash for CDOT's bridge and tunnel enterprise while reducing tax revenue subject to TABOR.
The Joint Budget Committee voted to authorize staff to work with legislative counsel to draft a bill that accelerates scheduled increases to the bridge‑and‑tunnel impact fee on special fuels and extends a tax exemption for interstate commercial truck maintenance through calendar year 2029.
Michelle Curry, Joint Budget Committee staff, told members the proposal responds to concerns from the Colorado Motor Carriers Association and the Colorado Department of Transportation about current funding pressures on bridge and overpass maintenance. Under current law the special‑fuels pump fee is scheduled to step up to 8¢ per gallon by fiscal year 2028‑29; the draft proposal would increase the fee sooner by adding 2¢ to make it 7¢ per gallon in the near term and then move it to 8¢ in a later scheduled step. Curry said that change would generate about $28.4 million across the first three years of the accelerated schedule for the bridge and tunnel enterprise (funds stay inside the enterprise and are not part of TABOR‑countable revenue).
The drafting proposal would also extend an expired tax exemption for maintenance and parts on heavy trucks used across state lines through calendar year 2029; Curry said continuing that exemption would reduce TABOR‑countable revenue by roughly $2.5 million but could improve competitiveness for interstate commerce.
Senators Kirkmeyer and Bridges and Representative Taggart asked about stakeholder views and whether the fee increase and the exemption could be separated; Curry said the items could be moved independently but that doing so could invite opposition from carriers. Committee members and staff discussed which safety and maintenance programs the enterprise would prioritize.
The committee voted to give staff authority to draft the bill; the motion passed 6‑0. Senators Kirkmeyer and Bridges were identified as sponsors, Senator Amabile as a cosponsor, and House sponsors were noted as Representatives Byrd and Taggart with Representative Sirota cosponsoring.
