Senate committee hears testimony on bill to raise North Dakota gas tax and increase electric-vehicle fees

Summary

Lawmakers heard pro and con testimony on House Bill 13 82, which would raise the state motor fuel excise tax by 3¢ per gallon (from 23¢ to 26¢), increase electric-vehicle registration fees, and direct the additional revenue to cities, counties and townships; the committee took testimony but did not take final action.

BISMARCK — The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee heard more than a dozen witnesses Feb. 24 on House Bill 13 82, a proposal to raise North Dakota's motor fuel tax by 3¢ per gallon and increase registration fees for electric vehicles as part of a package aimed at providing steady funding for city, county and township roads.

Representative Jared Haggart, District 20, introduced the bill, saying “the crux of House Bill 13 82 is to raise the North Dakota gas tax by 3¢. Moving from 23¢ to 26¢.” He said the increase is intended to create “a stable, reliable funding mechanism for our core roads and foundational roads” after the state’s motor fuel tax had not been raised since 2005.

Under the bill as described by Haggart and supporters, the 3¢ increase would be split so that 1¢ of each additional penny goes to cities, 1¢ to counties and 1¢ to townships. Haggart said the change would generate about $42,000,000 per biennium: about $18,000,000 for counties, $10,000,000 for cities and $14,000,000 for townships. The sponsor…

Senate committee hears testimony on bill to raise North Dakota gas tax and increase electric-vehicle fees

Summary

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