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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Re-ref to the Com on Transportation, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2025-07-03

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill directs the North Carolina General Assembly to hire a consultant to study alternative ways to fund highway construction and maintenance, potentially replacing or supplementing the current gas tax system. The study will examine fees on electric and hybrid vehicles, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees, and a flat annual highway access fee for non-diesel vehicles, with findings due by May 1, 2026. The study will cost $125,000 from the Highway Fund.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that as vehicle fleets become more electric and fuel-efficient, gas tax revenue will decline, threatening highway funding.
• •This study allows the state to proactively explore sustainable funding alternatives that ensure all drivers contribute fairly to road maintenance and construction, including electric vehicle owners who currently pay little to support highway infrastructure they use.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents contend that creating new fees on electric vehicles or implementing VMT tracking systems could discourage adoption of cleaner vehicles and burden drivers with additional costs.
• •They also argue the study's focus on replacing the gas tax with an access fee or per-mile charge raises concerns about increased government tracking of vehicle usage and may disproportionately affect rural drivers who travel longer distances.