Bill Text - HB1594 (2026)

Establishing a weight-based tiered registration fee schedule for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.


Revision: Dec. 10, 2025, 10:06 a.m.

HB 1594-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-2938

06/07

 

HOUSE BILL 1594-FN

 

AN ACT establishing a weight-based tiered registration fee schedule for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Bridle, Rock. 29; Rep. Coker, Belk. 2; Rep. Miller, Straf. 21

 

COMMITTEE: Transportation

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill changes the annual registration fees for electric vehicles from a flat fee to one based on type and weight.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-2938

06/07

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT establishing a weight-based tiered registration fee schedule for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Electric Vehicle Registration Fee to be Collected.  RSA 261:141-c is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:  

261:141-c Electric Vehicle Registration Fee.

I. In addition to any other registration fees required under this chapter, the division of motor vehicles shall assess an annual electric vehicle registration fee according to the following schedule:

Vehicle Type Unladen Weight Annual Fee

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) Under 2,000 lbs $25

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) 2,000–5,000 lbs $100

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) Over 5,000 lbs $150

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) Any weight $50

Neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV),

electric moped, or low-speed scooter Any weight $0

II.  The division shall determine vehicle classification and weight based on manufacturer specifications and registration records.

III.  The fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the highway fund.

IV.  The division may adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to:  

(a)  Vehicle classification;

(b)  Fee collection;

(c)  Exemptions; and

(d)  Implementation of this section.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.

 

LBA

26-2938

12/2/25

 

HB 1594-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT establishing a weight-based tiered registration fee schedule for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:   This bill does not provide funding.

 

 

Estimated State Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

Revenue

$0

Indeterminable

Revenue Fund(s)

Highway Fund

Expenditures*

$0

$45,000

Indeterminable

Funding Source(s)

Restricted - Highway Fund Cost of Collections - Per the state constitution, costs associated with the collection/administration of highway fund revenue by the Department of Safety is deducted prior to funds being credited as unrestricted highway fund revenue

Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

*Expenditure = Cost of bill                *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

Local Revenue

$0

$0

Indeterminable

Local Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill changes the annual registration fees for electric vehicles from a flat fee to one based on type and weight. Under current law, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are $100 and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are $50, and this bill proposes the following:

 

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) Under 2,000 lbs $25

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) 2,000–5,000 lbs $100

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) Over 5,000 lbs $150

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) Any weight $50

Neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV), electric moped, or low-speed scooter Any weight $0

 

The Department of Safety states that based on current registration data, there are approximately 15,358 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 6,150 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) registered in the state. It is unknown if this bill will increase or decrease state revenue as vehicle weight data is not available to the Department. Also, pursuant to RSA 235:23 (“Apportionment A”), 12 percent of highway fund road toll and motor vehicle fee revenue collected is distributed to municipalities in the year following collection. Therefore, this bill would have an interminable impact on state highway fund expenditures and local revenue in FY 2028 and beyond. For informational purposes, in FY 2025 there were a total of 11,236 BEVs and 4,453 PHEVs registered, with revenue totaling $1,123,600 and $222,650, respectively.

 

The Department states there will be a one-time system change cost of $45,000 in FY 2027 to implement this bill.

 

Lastly, the Department notes this bill’s effective date of July 1, 2026, may not provide adequate time for it to make the necessary changes to implement this bill. Typically, bills impacting vehicle registrations would be effective January 1.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety