BIC MATTERS: Senate Passes Road Funding Bill

TO: BIC Grassroots Network
FROM: Vicki Kitchin, Executive Director
DATE: April 5, 2017

BIC MATTERS: Senate Passes Road Funding Bill

Late yesterday afternoon on a vote of 34-13, the Indiana Senate passed its version of HB 1002. The strong vote for passage in the Senate underscores Senate leadership’s resolve to pass a comprehensive road funding bill this session. During the floor debate, several senators testified in support of the bill including Senate President Pro Tempore David Long, Appropriations Committee Chairman Luke Kenley, Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee Chairman Brandt Hershman and Transportation Committee Chairman and bill sponsor Mike Crider.

The Senate passed HB 1002 in the same form as passed by the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee last week. As a reminder, the bill now includes the following revenue provisions:

  • Ten cent gas tax increase phased in over two years;
  • Six cent diesel tax increase phased in over two years;
  • Ten cent diesel surcharge increase phased in over two years and moved to pump;
  • Increase in vehicle registration fee of $15 per year;
  • 50% increase in commercial vehicle registration fees and International Registration Plan registration fees;
  • Increases fee on new tire sales by $5 per tire;
  • Annual $75 fee for hybrid vehicles;
  • Allows the Governor through Indiana Finance Authority and INDOT to pursue tolling.

We now have a comparison of the new revenue raised by the House and Senate versions of HB 1002. By 2021 the House-passed bill would result in $1.13 billion in annual new funding, with $748 million going to INDOT and $382 million going to locals. The Senate-passed version would result in $766 million in annual new funding with $610 million going to INDOT and $156 million to locals.

NEXT STEP: The House can now concur or dissent on the Senate version of HB 1002. We expect the House will dissent. This action will result in a conference committee established to negotiate a final version of the bill. For the most part, these negotiations will take place in private meetings between House and Senate leadership and the Governor.

BIC applauds the Indiana Senate for passing HB 1002. While it falls short of the funding in the House version, this action by the Senate keeps the discussion alive and allows for the opportunity to reach an agreement on a final bill.

ACTION REQUESTED: We ask that BIC members take the time to thank Senators who voted in favor of HB 1002. Keep in mind that this was a difficult vote for many Senators. Thank them for their vote and remind them of the $1.2 billion per year need for INDOT and the $775 million per year need for locals. Ask them to support conference committee negotiations that move closer to filling this need for state and local road and bridge improvements.

Legislative leaders are planning to adjourn the session on April 21. Between now and then legislators will be negotiating several issues including the road funding package, the overall state budget and many others. So, stay tuned and keep up your contacts with your House and Senate members. Remember, for a final road funding package to be approved, they will all need to cast another vote.

Call BIC with questions or with any feedback you get from legislators.

BIC MATTERS – House Passes Long-term Road Funding Bill

TO: BIC Grassroots Network
FROM: Vicki Kitchin
DATE: February 16, 2017

BIC MATTERS: House Passes Long Term Road Funding Bill

House Passes HB 1002
Today, with a vote of 61-36, the Indiana House of Representatives passed HB 1002 which provides long-term, dedicated and stable funding for state and local roads and bridges. Roads and Transportation Chairman Ed Soliday explained the bill’s provisions, which include the following:

  • increases the gasoline tax, special fuels tax and motor carrier surcharge tax each by 10 cents to restore lost buying power since the taxes were last raised,
  • indexes all fuel tax rates annually using a formula that incorporates CPI-U and Indiana personal income growth (the indexing sunsets in 2024),
  • transfers the remaining 4.5 pennies of the sales tax on gasoline from the General Fund to the State Highway Fund,
  • implements a $15 annual statewide infrastructure improvement fee on all vehicles registered in Indiana,
  • implements a $150 annual statewide infrastructure improvement fee on all electric vehicles registered in Indiana and increases the current alternative fuel vehicle fee to $150,
  • requires INDOT to further study tolling and submit a waiver to the federal government to allow tolling on existing interstates (the first toll road implemented cannot be within 75 miles of an existing toll facility)
  • lowers the minimum population threshold applicable to the municipal wheel tax/surtax from 10,000 to 5,000.

HB 1002 would generate new road funding immediately with the amount gradually increasing each year. Click here for the latest fiscal analysis.

In a rare move, Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma spoke on the floor in support of the bill. He emphasized that HB 1002 is the result of six years of study, relies on user fees and does not increase state debt. He thanked Chairman Soliday and Ways and Means Chairman Tim Brown for their work on the bill.

After about one hour of debate, the House voted 61-36 to pass the bill. Seven House Republicans and all Democrats voted against the bill. You can see the vote sheet here.

BIC sincerely appreciates the House Republican leadership and all caucus members who voted in favor of HB 1002. We ask all members to contact your legislator with a “Thank You,” if he/she voted “Yes” on the bill today.

Next Steps
HB 1002 now goes to the Senate where its sponsors are Senator Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville) and Senator Michael Crider (R-Greenfield). We do not expect a Senate committee to hear the bill until sometime in March. Now is the time to reach out to your Senator and encourage their support of HB 1002.

Town Halls
Thanks to all of you who have been contacting legislators and attending town hall meetings. We ask that you continue to attend these meetings, express your support for House members who voted yes today and encourage your Senators to support it. This week’s list includes meetings in Bedford, Valparaiso, Orleans, Greencastle, Fort Wayne, Goshen, Spencer, Frankfort, Decatur, Berne, Veedersburg, Lafayette, West Lafayette, and Princeton.

Send BIC a note with feedback from these meetings. Remember, we have a long way to go in this process.

BIC MATTERS: Action Required

Contact Your Indiana State Representative Before January 25

“Despite our standing and our ongoing momentum, we can’t afford to get complacent or take our eyes off the ball.” – Governor Eric Holcomb, during his inaugural address on taking Indiana to the next level.
 
“I need every one of your members to be involved!” – Speaker Brian Bosma, during remarks at an industry lunch earlier today.

BIC NOTE: As highway funding advocates, we must heed the advice from Governor Holcomb and Speaker Bosma. The stars are aligning as never before, but we cannot take the outcome for granted. As we begin this legislative session, we ask you to take action when the need arises. We seek long-term, dedicated, stable and adequate funding for Indiana’s state and local highways, roads, streets and bridges. Your contacts to legislators during the next four months will be critical to our industry’s success. Please watch for BIC MATTERS alerts and take action. We will only ask for action when we truly believe it’s warranted. And now for this week’s update…

In the last two weeks, leaders in both the Indiana House and Senate and Indiana’s newly elected Governor, Eric Holcomb, have announced long-term road funding as a top priority for the 2017 legislative session.

Indiana House Republican Leadership Announces Road Funding Plan (HB 1002)
Republican leaders in the Indiana House of Representatives have introduced a comprehensive and bold road funding bill (HB 1002) that would provide new annual road funding of at least $1.2 billion per year. HB 1002 includes new revenue as follows:

  • increases the gasoline tax, special fuels tax and motor carrier surcharge tax each by 10 cents to restore lost buying power since the taxes were last raised,
  • indexes all fuel tax rates annually using a formula that incorporates CPI-U and Indiana personal income growth,
  • transfers, over three years, the remaining 4.5 pennies of the sales tax on gasoline from the General Fund to the State Highway Fund,
  • implements a $15 annual statewide infrastructure improvement fee on all vehicles registered in Indiana,
    implements a $150 annual statewide infrastructure improvement fee on all electric vehicles registered in Indiana and increases the current alternative fuel vehicle fee to $150,
  • requires INDOT to further study tolling and submit a waiver to the federal government to allow tolling on existing interstates,
  • lowers the minimum population threshold applicable to the municipal wheel tax/surtax from 10,000 to 5,000.

You can access a fiscal summary of HB 1002 here, including how the bill allocates funds to INDOT and local governments.

The Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Representative Tim Brown (R-Crawfordsville) and the Roads and Transportation Committee, chaired by Representative Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) will hear the bill in a joint committee meeting on Wednesday, January 25 at 9:00 a.m. in the House Chamber. BIC is working with our road funding partners to coordinate testimony in support of the bill.

ACTION REQUIRED: BIC strongly supports HB 1002. House members in both the Republican and Democrat caucuses are discussing this bill in private meetings. House members have various concerns. Anti-tax groups that oppose the bill have already been contacting legislators. It is important that ALL House members receive a phone call or email from supporters of this bill before it is heard in Committee on January 25. Obviously, members of the two committees are very important to this first step, and you can see the lists of committee members at these links: Ways and Means Committee and Roads and Transportation Committee. However, ALL House members need to receive a contact from supporters of HB 1002. Please contact your State Representative, regardless of political affiliation, by January 25 and express your strong support for HB 1002. Also, send me an email if you get a response from your legislator. For a link to your State Representative, click here. Remember, we will focus on House members only at this time; we will focus on Senate contacts later in the session.

Governor Eric Holcomb’s Priorities Include 20-year Plan to Fund Roads and Bridges
At a press conference last week, Governor Eric Holcomb announced that his legislative agenda for the 2017 session includes creation of a 20-year plan to fund roads and bridges (click here). He noted the importance of funding for both state and local roads and bridges. He said that funding options include fuel taxes, indexing, P3s, new tolling options and fees for alternative vehicles.

Senate Leaders Say It’s Time to Address Long-Term Road Funding
In a press conference on Tuesday, Senate Republican leaders said that their priorities for the 2017 session include implementing a long-term road funding plan. President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) and Senator Mike Crider (R-Greenfield) spoke about the issue. Senator Long acknowledged that while it’s hard for his caucus to talk about increasing taxes, they cannot continue to fund roads from the state general fund. He noted that U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has said the same about the federal budget, and that states are going to have to implement solutions to address road funding shortfalls. Senator Long said Indiana is $1 billion short annually and that he wants to find a solution for 20 years. He expects the final plan will include a mix of new revenue and fees. He also said that gas tax is the accepted method to pay for road improvements and that he could support tolling for new roads or new lanes.

Bottom Line
We are thankful and encouraged that our state leaders have made this a priority. However, we cannot be complacent. Everyone must engage during this legislative session. Please take the action requested above. Call me or send an email if you have any questions, and with any feedback you get from your legislator. Thank you.