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Committee supports raising trailer registration fees to boost rural road maintenance; fiscal note sends bill to appropriations
Summary
House Bill 6 60 would raise annual registration fees on trailers and subtrailers to produce additional revenue for rural road maintenance. The Transportation Committee voted to report the bill favorably, 6‑3, and because of a fiscal note the measure will be recommitted to Appropriations for further review.
The House Transportation Committee voted Monday to report House Bill 6 60, a measure to increase annual registration fees on trailers and subtrailers to boost dedicated funding for rural road maintenance and ferries.
Representative Brett Boyd, authoring the bill with co‑sponsors including Senator Carter, said the statutory dedicated fees for light trailers had not been increased since 2002 and do not cover rising maintenance costs. "This is the only statutorily dedicated money that we have that goes to maintaining our rural roads," Boyd said. The substitute raises the annual fee for certain light trailers from $3 (or $10 for some categories as described in current law) to new amounts intended to increase revenue for the transportation trust that supports non‑state rural roads and ferry operations.
Opponents and concerns raised
Some lawmakers and industry witnesses opposed the change or urged caution. Representative Shamarhorn said drivers and small working households already face heavy cost pressures and opposed an across‑the‑board fee rise. Renee Amor of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association testified that the bill would impose an annual fee on every trailer, including many currently parked or out of service, and urged consideration of alternatives such as broader fuel taxes that spread cost across all users.
Committee vote and disposition
Representative Phelps moved to report the bill favorably. The committee recorded a roll‑call vote that produced six yeas and three nays; because the measure carries a fiscal note it will be recommitted to the House Appropriations Committee for additional review of the fiscal impact. Committee staff said the fee increases would be deposited with DOTD and used for non‑state rural road maintenance and ferry support, with refunds available for trailers not in use.
Why it matters
Supporters argue the targeted fee is the statutory funding source for maintaining non‑state rural roads and ferries and has not been raised in more than two decades, reducing buying power against increased maintenance costs. Opponents say the fee is regressive for working people and urged broader conversations about spreading costs. The bill’s next stop is Appropriations, where the fiscal analysis and potential mitigation measures will be considered.
