HB 4126
Requires the Department of Transportation to submit a biennial report to the Legislative Assembly recommending a rate for the per-mile road usage charge that would sustainably raise the revenue necessary to maintain the public highways in this state.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
94%
Oppose
6%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill requires Oregon’s Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create a biennial report recommending a rate for a ‘per-mile road usage charge.’ This charge is intended to sustainably generate revenue to maintain the state’s public highways. The report must detail the costs of highway maintenance and preservation, as well as vehicle miles traveled within the state. An emergency declaration means the bill takes effect immediately upon passage.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of HB 4126 generally agree that a data-driven approach is necessary to sustainably fund Oregon's transportation system, citing declining gas tax revenues as a primary concern. Many for a Road User Charge as an alternative method for funding road maintenance and preservation, emphasizing the need for transparency and fairness in the implementation of such a system. Some express concerns about the impact on electric vehicle owners, suggesting that they should pay based on their actual usage rather than a flat fee. Overall, supporters see HB 4126 as a crucial step towards finding a sustainable method to fund road maintenance and preservation, aligning with Oregon's climate, equity, and air quality goals.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 4126 express concerns that taxing visitor road usage could have unintended consequences on local businesses and communities. They argue that increased costs for visitors may deter tourism, ultimately harming the local economy and leading to reduced tax revenues. Additionally, critics worry that this new revenue stream would require significant staffing increases to collect and process taxes, potentially straining already limited resources. By introducing a new tax on visitor road usage, opponents believe HB 4126 could inadvertently harm the very industries it aims to support.
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