HB 4009 – Changes a voluntary progrsm to a mandatory per-mile road usage charge for owners/lessees of EV’s, hybrid vehicles and delivery vehicles engaged in e-commerce. Allows a mandatory flat rate yearly fee in lieu of per-mile charge. Pauses certain EV rebates and limits one rebate type to one per household.
Taxation without representation – charges are automaticlly adjusted based on cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), based on inflation metrics.
EMAIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND LEGISLATORS
WATCH FOR AMENDMENT -7, a rewrite.
Major Changes:
- Expands the road usage charge program – Makes it mandatory (not voluntary) for electric and hybrid vehicle owners, phasing in between 2027-2031
- Adds delivery vehicles – Creates new requirements for electric delivery vehicles used in e-commerce (vehicles over 8,000 lbs delivering online purchases)
- Defines new terms like:
- “E-commerce property”
- “Electronic commerce”
- “Taxpayer” (replacing references to just owners/lessees)
- Requires biennial reports – ODOT must recommend sustainable per-mile rates to maintain highways
- Changes EV rebate programs:
- Temporarily suspends rebates under ORS 468.444
- Limits Charge Ahead rebates to one per household (instead of unlimited)
- Redirects all Zero-Emission Incentive Fund money to Charge Ahead program
- Adds flat fee option – Allows paying an annual flat fee instead of per-mile charges (though the amount is left blank: “$___”)
Per-mile tracking raises data privacy issues, burdens higher mileage drivers (common in rural areas or for work), managing this program adds administrative costs and increases bureaucracy and inequity as it targets specific vehicles.