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Committee discussion on ethanol incentive amendment ends without formal vote; bill set aside for further work
Summary
A representative proposed an amendment to end an ethanol incentive and redirect proceeds to the highway distribution fund; members discussed the amendment's rationale but did not file it and the bill was set aside.
A committee member outlined an amendment to remove a low‑carbon fuel incentive tied to vehicle registration taxes and redirect proceeds back into the highway distribution fund, but the committee did not adopt the amendment and set related legislation aside for further work.
Representative Tolman described the proposed amendment as getting “rid of the incentive altogether and puts the taxes back into the highway distribution fund.” Tolman said the change would remove sections 1 and 2 of the bill, keep section 3 and the repealer, and amend the transfer so proceeds return to the highway distribution fund rather than a newly created fund.
Tolman argued the incentive should either stand on its own or be structured like other energy incentives that come from an industry's own tax base. He said, “the business needs to stand on their own at this point in time.” Another member suggested Tolman coordinate with legislative counsel before formally filing the amendment to ensure it would not have unintended effects on other provisions.
Representative Haggart said he would vote against the bill if the committee did not pursue Tolman’s logic. Representative Dressler offered to work with Tolman and interested parties to seek alternatives. The committee chair said the item would be set aside and legislators would continue working on it; no formal amendment was filed and no roll-call vote was taken on the proposal during this meeting.
