House Transportation chair outlines T bill changes, cites delay to mileage fee and a one-time $1.7M town highway transfer

Representative Matt Walker, chair of the House Committee on Transportation, told the Senate Transportation committee on March 31 that the House T bill largely follows the governor’s recommendation but carries several substantive changes after an 11‑page Ways and Means amendment.

Walker said "more than 99% of the T bill matches the governor's recommend" while noting targeted changes including about $192,000 identified for electric-vehicle pilot work. He stressed the most consequential amendment relates to the mileage-based user fee (MBUF): "we won't be looking at any money into the T fund for at least 12 plus months," Walker said, describing a shift from point-of-sale collection toward reconciliation after a year of driving.

Why it matters: lawmakers had expected MBUF collections to begin with new-vehicle sales on Jan. 1; the amendment alters timing, payment options and the collection mechanism. Walker said the committee did not receive outside testimony on the…