Highways, Roads and Bridges

Plain English Breakdown

The bill focuses specifically on studying alternative measures related to electric vehicle registration fees rather than a broader range of transportation funding methods.

Transportation Funding Study

This bill requires TACIR to study alternative funding methods for transportation infrastructure and submit recommendations by January 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

• TACIR must study alternative measures to the additional registration fee imposed on electric vehicles to replace or supplement decreases in transportation infrastructure funding due to improved vehicle fuel efficiency.
• The study will look at benefits and challenges of different user fee options for transportation.
• TACIR needs to survey successful programs from other states over the past ten years.
• State departments and agencies must help TACIR with this study.
• By January 1, 2026, TACIR has to report its findings and recommendations.

Who It Names or Affects

• Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR)
• State departments and agencies in Tennessee
• Legislators responsible for transportation issues

Terms To Know

TACIR

The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, a state agency that studies intergovernmental issues.

Transportation user fee alternatives

Different ways to collect money from people who use transportation systems, like tolls or special fees for electric vehicles.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the study will be funded beyond existing resources.
• It is unclear what specific recommendations TACIR might make based on their findings.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 549
By Briggs

HOUSE BILL 523
By Atchley

HB0523
000742
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 9; Title 54; Title 55 and Title 67, relative to
transportation funding.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1.
(a) The Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR)
shall conduct a study and prepare a report on recommendations regarding alternative
measures to the additional registration fee imposed on all-electric vehicles, hybrid
electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles pursuant to Tennessee Code
Annotated, Section 55-4-116, to replace or supplement the decreases in transportation
infrastructure funding due to vehicles becoming more fuel efficient or using no fuel.
(b) The study and report must:
(1) Provide transportation user fee alternatives;
(2) Identify the benefits and challenges of various transportation user fee
options; and
(3) Survey alternative user fee programs successfully implemented over
the past ten (10) years by at least three (3) other states.
(c) All appropriate state departments and agencies shall provide assistance to
TACIR in connection with the study required by subsection (a).
(d) On or before January 1, 2026, TACIR shall report its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, regarding transportation user fee
alternatives to the chair of the committee in the house of representatives with jurisdiction

- 2 - 000742

over transportation issues, the chair of the transportation and safety committee of the
senate, and the legislative librarian.
(e) It is the legislative intent that this study must be conducted from TACIR's
existing resources.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.