HB1649 (2020) Compare Changes


The Bill Text indicates a new section is being inserted. This situation is not handled right now, and the new text is displayed in both the changed and unchanged versions.

Unchanged Version

Text to be removed highlighted in red.

1 New Section; Motor Vehicles; Road Usage Fee. Amend RSA 260 by inserting after section 32-c the following new section:

260:32-d Road Usage Fee.

I. Except as provided by paragraph II, the owner of each New Hampshire motor vehicle shall be required to pay a road usage fee based on the combined EPA City/Highway miles per gallon (MPG) rating of the vehicle at the time of registration, other than temporary registration, with a registration agent. The road usage fee shall be based on a vehicle that travels 12,000 miles per year and averages 20 MPG. Such a base vehicle would use 600 gallons of fuel and pay $132.20 per year in road toll. The road usage fee shall be $10.00 for 20 MPG or less vehicles. The road usage fee for the other MPG ranges shall be rounded to the nearest $25 increment; therefore, the road usage fee for the following MPG increment ranges are:

MPG range Fee

20 or less $10.00

greater than 20 to 30 $25.00

greater than 30 to 40 $50.00

greater than 40 to 50 $75.00

greater than 50 $100.00

no gasoline $125.00

If the road toll rates are adjusted then the road usage fee shall be adjusted in the same proportion to reflect the new rates.

II. The road usage fee shall not apply to motorcycles as defined in RSA 259:63, mopeds as defined in RSA 259:57, off highway recreational vehicles as defined in RSA 259:69, and motor vehicles that are model year 1985 or older.

III. The department of safety, in conjunction with the department of transportation, shall develop and maintain a system which links the United States Environmental Protection Agency's MPG data system with the department of safety's vehicle identification number (VIN) data system, allowing registration agents to collect the road usage fee established in paragraph I.

IV. The registration agent may retain $1 of each road usage fee collected in compensation for the administrative costs of collecting the fee. The remainder of the fees shall be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit, net of any "Apportionment A" allocated to the local highway aid fund for distribution under RSA 235:23, I, in the highway fund.

2 Implementation of Road Usage Fee. Before July 1, 2021, the commissioner of safety, in conjunction with the commissioner of transportation, shall develop the linked data system required under RSA 260:32-d and adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A to establish road usage fees based on the requirements and mileage per gallon ranges (MPG) established in RSA 260:32-d, I.

3 Appropriation; Department of Safety. The sum of $330,000 is hereby appropriated to the department of safety for the biennium ending June 30, 2021, for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this act. The appropriation shall be a charge against the highway fund and is in addition to any other funds appropriated to the department of safety.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

Changed Version

Text to be added highlighted in green.

1 New Section; Motor Vehicles; Road Usage Fee. Amend RSA 260 by inserting after section 32-c the following new section:

260:32-d Road Usage Fee.

I. Except as provided by paragraph II, the owner of each New Hampshire motor vehicle shall be required to pay a road usage fee based on the combined EPA City/Highway miles per gallon (MPG) rating of the vehicle at the time of registration, other than temporary registration, with a registration agent. The road usage fee shall be based on a vehicle that travels 12,000 miles per year and averages 20 MPG. Such a base vehicle would use 600 gallons of fuel and pay $132.20 per year in road toll. The road usage fee shall be $10.00 for 20 MPG or less vehicles. The road usage fee for the other MPG ranges shall be rounded to the nearest $25 increment; therefore, the road usage fee for the following MPG increment ranges are:

MPG range Fee

20 or less $10.00

greater than 20 to 30 $25.00

greater than 30 to 40 $50.00

greater than 40 to 50 $75.00

greater than 50 $100.00

no gasoline $125.00

If the road toll rates are adjusted then the road usage fee shall be adjusted in the same proportion to reflect the new rates.

II. The road usage fee shall not apply to motorcycles as defined in RSA 259:63, mopeds as defined in RSA 259:57, off highway recreational vehicles as defined in RSA 259:69, and motor vehicles that are model year 1985 or older.

III. The department of safety, in conjunction with the department of transportation, shall develop and maintain a system which links the United States Environmental Protection Agency's MPG data system with the department of safety's vehicle identification number (VIN) data system, allowing registration agents to collect the road usage fee established in paragraph I.

IV. The registration agent may retain $1 of each road usage fee collected in compensation for the administrative costs of collecting the fee. The remainder of the fees shall be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit, net of any "Apportionment A" allocated to the local highway aid fund for distribution under RSA 235:23, I, in the highway fund.

2 Implementation of Road Usage Fee. Before July 1, 2021, the commissioner of safety, in conjunction with the commissioner of transportation, shall develop the linked data system required under RSA 260:32-d and adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A to establish road usage fees based on the requirements and mileage per gallon ranges (MPG) established in RSA 260:32-d, I.

3 Appropriation; Department of Safety. The sum of $330,000 is hereby appropriated to the department of safety for the biennium ending June 30, 2021, for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this act. The appropriation shall be a charge against the highway fund and is in addition to any other funds appropriated to the department of safety.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.