Lawmakers weigh road‑usage charge, tolling and an agricultural fuel exemption to stabilize transport funding

Lawmakers at the briefing identified transportation funding as a key pressure point for the session and outlined policy options under consideration.

House and Senate leaders noted that gas‑tax revenues are declining as vehicles become more fuel‑efficient and that the state will need a more stable transportation funding structure. "A road usage charge is something we are going to have to do if we want to keep having bridges that are safe and highways without potholes and ferries on the water," Joe Fitzgibbon said.

He said the House favors delaying some benefit increases rather than cutting services in other areas and that the legislature will study options such as a road‑usage charge or systemwide tolling. Speakers cautioned about regressive impacts: "I worry about the landscapers, the gardeners, the baristas who have to drive into my district," one caucus leader said, urging attention to equity in design.

Separately, a questioner raised a bill related to the Climate Commitment Act that would allow agriculture to use regular gasoline rather than red‑dyed agricultural fuel. Fitzgibbon and others said agricultural fuel exemptions are a topic they hope to make headway on this year and mentioned Representative Dent as a bill sponsor.

What’s next: lawmakers said they will take legislative steps this session to study options and consider statutory changes that allow transportation funding alternatives to be explored; hearings were scheduled on related items.