Senate committee advances bill raising electric-vehicle registration fees, diverts one-third to local highway fund

TOPEKA — The Senate Transportation Committee voted Tuesday to pass House Bill 2121 as amended, a measure that raises annual registration fees for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and redirects a portion of those fees to local road funding.

The bill, as presented to the committee, would increase fees for plug-in hybrid vehicles and all-electric vehicles and would change how those fees are distributed. Under current law, electric and hybrid vehicle registration fees go in full to the state highway fund; HB 2121 would allocate two-thirds to the state highway fund and one-third to the special city and county highway fund, distributing that one-third according to existing law for motor-fuel taxes.

“House Bill 2,121 would increase the license fees of electric and electric hybrid passenger vehicles, trucks, and also electric motorcycles,” the bill presenter said. The presenter described the proposed new fee schedule and the distribution change to match the motor-fuel tax allocation system.

Committee members adopted an amendment during the hearing that restored the annual fee for basic (non–plug-in) hybrid vehicles to $50. The amendment was offered and put to a voice vote; the committee chair announced the motion carried. The committee then voted to pass HB 2121 as amended; the chair announced the motion carried and the bill will move forward in the process.

Why it matters: Committee members said the fee increases and the distribution change are intended to address near-term revenue impacts from growing electric-vehicle (EV) adoption while preserving support for local road maintenance. Senator Corson voiced support for the bill but called it a temporary fix.

“I do appreciate this bill and Im going to be supporting it. Ill just make the comment though that I do think that this is somewhat of a temporary solution to a longer term problem,” Corson said. He urged the committee to consider longer-term alternatives that tie funding more directly to road use.

Discussion and details: The presenter summarized the fee changes included in the bill text. As presented in committee: - Plug-in hybrid vehicles: increase to $100 (from $50 or other prior amounts depending on class). - All-electric passenger vehicles: increase to $165 (from $100). - Electric motorcycles: increase to $30 (from $16). - Electric trucks under 12,000 pounds: increases to $125 for plug-in hybrid versions and $200 for all-electric trucks (previously $40 for some truck classes).

The bill would alter fund disposition so that two-thirds of the new registration revenue go to the state highway fund and one-third go into the special city and county highway fund and then be distributed according to law for motor-fuel tax funds.

Committee action: A committee member moved an amendment to return the basic (non–plug-in) hybrid fee to $50; Senator Dietrich was recorded offering the second. The amendment was approved by voice vote. Senator Klooz moved that the committee pass HB 2121 as amended favorably; Senator Klimp provided the second. The committee approved the bill by voice vote; individual recorded roll-call tallies were not provided in the transcript.

What committee members asked for next: The chair asked whether members would like a future presentation on road-usage charges, a possible longer-term funding mechanism. Senator Corson said he would welcome that presentation.

Remaining items: The committee has scheduled additional meetings and noted an upcoming presentation on emerging technologies in aviation.

Votes at a glance: - Amendment (restore basic hybrid fee to $50): approved by voice vote; mover not specified; second: Senator Dietrich; outcome: approved. - Final committee recommendation (pass HB 2121 as amended): mover: Senator Klooz; second: Senator Klimp; outcome: approved (voice vote).