Bill
HB 5547
HB 5547 eliminates the Highway Use Tax, removing a transportation revenue source and reducing funding for highway maintenance and projects unless replacement funds are provided.
HB 5547 — AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX
Overview
- Bill number and title: HB 5547, An Act Eliminating the Highway Use Tax
- Subject: Highways, Sales and Use Tax
- Purpose: To eliminate the Highway Use Tax (HUT). The summary provided identifies the bill's central aim as removing this transportation-related tax.
Key Provisions and Changes (as available)
- Elimination of the Highway Use Tax: The bill would repeal or otherwise remove the Highway Use Tax. No additional provisions (such as replacement revenue mechanisms or transitional rules) are specified in the available summary.
- Related/companion measure: SB 1212 is listed as a companion bill, indicating parallel or similar language in another chamber.
Affects and Stakeholders
- Primary affected party: Taxpayers currently paying the Highway Use Tax (likely vehicle owners or users subject to the HUT).
- Government and transportation funding: State and/or local transportation programs funded through the Highway Use Tax would potentially lose that revenue, potentially impacting highway maintenance, construction, or other transportation initiatives unless alternative funding is provided.
- Related fiscal considerations: Any elimination of a dedicated highway tax could affect budgeting for transportation projects and may prompt adjustments to other revenue streams or bonding plans.
Procedural and Timeline Highlights
- Introduction: Filed March 14, 2025.
- Initial committee actions:
- January 21, 2025: Referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding (R&B) (indicating the bill’s fiscal/financial nature).
- April 7, 2025: Read in the first instance and referred to Criminal Jurisprudence (an unusual placement for a tax bill; this may reflect a procedural path or an interim committee assignment).
- Status: Listed as Ref. to Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding; later actions show a first-time reading and a referral to Criminal Jurisprudence, suggesting the bill is in early stages.
- Related bill: SB 1212 (companion), indicating parallel consideration in the other chamber.
Next Steps and Considerations
- If advanced, the bill would proceed through additional committee reviews, potential amendments, and floor votes in the chamber of origin, followed by action in the companion chamber.
- Fiscal impact would hinge on current HUT revenue levels and any proposed offsets or replacement funding.
- Readers should monitor for updates on committee referrals, potential amendments, and the availability of the bill’s fiscal impact statement, which would clarify budgetary effects.
Notes
- The provided information does not include the bill’s exact text, effective date, or any transitional provisions beyond the core objective of eliminating the Highway Use Tax.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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