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House leaders favor a simpler annual fee for high‑efficiency vehicles over a mileage‑based road usage charge
Summary
Chair Fai said the House proposal moves toward a straightforward annual fee for vehicles above about 25 MPG, citing Virginia's model as easier and faster to implement than a full mileage‑based system; Barkas signaled cautious openness to consider the approach over time.
House leaders described the proposal’s approach to declining gas‑tax receipts from more fuel‑efficient vehicles, saying the plan favors a simple annual fee for high‑efficiency cars rather than an immediate shift to a mileage‑based system.
Chair Fai cited the Virginia model, which levies an annual fee for vehicles exceeding a specified efficiency threshold and offers an opt‑in mileage option; she said most affected vehicles would pay a modest annual amount and that the simpler model is less costly to implement. "The Virginia proposal has some real advantages to it. It's a lot easier to understand... it doesn't cost as much to implement, and it provides revenue in a short timeframe," she said.
Representative Andrew Barkas agreed the simplified model addresses many problematic aspects of a road‑usage charge and said it could be taken into consideration over time, while reiterating general reluctance to add new fees without careful consideration.
What remains: officials said more feedback is needed and that a mileage‑based rollout would take longer and generate less near‑term revenue within the six‑year budgeting window. No implementation timeline was finalized at the press conference.
