Bill to raise gas tax 3¢ and create city/county/township road fund draws broad support and opposition

Chairman Hedlund opened a hearing on House Bill 13‑82, which would increase the state motor fuel tax by 3¢ per gallon, adjust registration fees for electric and plug‑in hybrid vehicles and create a city, county and township road fund to distribute revenue to local governments.

Representative Jared Haggart, sponsor, said the bill is designed to provide stable funding for local infrastructure and to target maintenance needs in counties, cities and townships. "The proposal in 13‑82 is to raise the gas tax by 3¢, thereby generating roughly $42,000,000 in revenue of biennium that would be distributed to cities, counties, and townships," Haggart said. The bill directs distribution for non‑oil producing counties based on the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute needs assessment and references changes in…