Bill Text: TX SB1653 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a study by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles regarding alternatively fueled vehicles and gasoline and diesel taxes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-04 - Co-author authorized [SB1653 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SB1653-Introduced.html
| 2019S0350-1 03/05/19 | ||
| By: Schwertner | S.B. No. 1653 | |
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| relating to a study by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles | ||
| regarding alternatively fueled vehicles and gasoline and diesel | ||
| taxes. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Alternatively fueled vehicle" has the meaning | ||
| assigned by Section 502.004(a), Transportation Code. | ||
| (2) "Conventional vehicle" means a vehicle, as defined | ||
| by Section 502.001(45), Transportation Code, that is exclusively | ||
| powered by gasoline or diesel fuel. | ||
| (3) "Department" means the Texas Department of Motor | ||
| Vehicles. | ||
| (4) "Gasoline tax" and "diesel fuel tax" mean the | ||
| motor fuel taxes established under Subchapters B and C, Chapter | ||
| 162, Tax Code, respectively. | ||
| (5) "Vehicle miles traveled" means the number of miles | ||
| traveled by a vehicle. | ||
| (b) The department shall conduct a study on the feasibility | ||
| and desirability of a program to establish a fee similar to the | ||
| gasoline or diesel fuel tax for alternatively fueled vehicles. | ||
| (c) The study must: | ||
| (1) review other state or federal laws regarding fees | ||
| and taxes for alternatively fueled vehicles and whether those laws | ||
| reduced gasoline and diesel fuel tax revenue, including: | ||
| (A) whether other states measure the vehicle | ||
| miles traveled of alternatively fueled vehicles to calculate any | ||
| fees or taxes; and | ||
| (B) if so, what methods were used to calculate | ||
| the vehicle miles traveled; | ||
| (2) calculate the revenue generated from gasoline and | ||
| diesel fuel taxes per vehicle mile traveled in Texas; | ||
| (3) calculate the total amount of vehicle fees and | ||
| taxes that drivers of alternatively fueled vehicles pay compared | ||
| with the total amount of vehicle fees and taxes drivers of | ||
| conventional vehicles pay, and calculate the net revenue generated | ||
| by each; | ||
| (4) determine whether a correlation exists between the | ||
| market penetration of alternatively fueled vehicles and the | ||
| decrease in revenue from gasoline and diesel fuel taxes; | ||
| (5) compile and analyze all available sources of data | ||
| related to the vehicle miles traveled for alternatively fueled | ||
| vehicles in Texas; | ||
| (6) determine whether the Department of Public Safety | ||
| should collect information on the vehicle miles traveled at an | ||
| alternatively fueled vehicle's annual inspection under Chapter | ||
| 548, Transportation Code; | ||
| (7) determine a method, in measuring vehicle miles | ||
| traveled, to distinguish between alternatively fueled vehicles, | ||
| hybrid vehicles, as defined by Section 382.003(7-b), Health and | ||
| Safety Code, and conventional vehicles at annual inspections under | ||
| Chapter 548, Transportation Code; | ||
| (8) determine the feasibility of implementing a | ||
| program creating a vehicle miles traveled fee for alternatively | ||
| fueled vehicles that will be paid into the state highway fund, | ||
| including: | ||
| (A) the cost of implementing such a program to | ||
| drivers of alternatively fueled vehicles and to the state; | ||
| (B) whether the vehicle miles traveled measured | ||
| by the program should include miles traveled outside the State of | ||
| Texas; | ||
| (C) whether vehicle weight should be a factor in | ||
| calculating vehicle miles traveled; | ||
| (D) the appropriate state agency to administer | ||
| such a program; and | ||
| (E) the appropriate methods of and schedule for | ||
| payment for the vehicle miles traveled fee implemented under the | ||
| program; and | ||
| (9) calculate the feasibility and determine the | ||
| consequences of abolishing gasoline and diesel fuel taxes and | ||
| replacing the taxes with a vehicle miles traveled fee for all | ||
| vehicles, including: | ||
| (A) calculating the total amount in fees the | ||
| average driver would be required to pay to ensure that the state not | ||
| lose the revenue it derives from gasoline and diesel fuel taxes; and | ||
| (B) comparing any potential negative effects | ||
| from implementing a vehicle miles traveled fee for all vehicles and | ||
| any current negative effects from gasoline and diesel fuel taxes. | ||
| (d) Not later than December 1, 2020, the department shall | ||
| prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of | ||
| the house of representatives, and members of the legislature a | ||
| written report that includes a summary of the results of the study | ||
| conducted under this section and any legislative recommendations | ||
| based on the study. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2021. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
