Colorado law directs oversized vehicle permit fees to state road repairs

A state working group evaluates transportation funding and recommends approaches. The group includes state officials and appointed members representing public finance, environmental groups, counties, transportation planning, motor carriers, municipalities, economic development, and construction. The group may meet with experts and may end its work early or extend it by majority vote. This section takes effect if the specified ballot petition is not filed by May 27, 2026, or is withdrawn by June 15, 2026. The group meets at least every two weeks through the week of November 2, 2026, and sends reports by September 7 and November 13, 2026.

The law sets rates for fuel taxes and vehicle charges and directs transportation funding transfers. The provisions address gasoline and special fuel taxes, vehicle registration charges, late fees, road usage fees, and transfers between state transportation funds. Several tax, fee, and funding provisions take effect only if voters approve the specified transportation funding constitutional initiative. The road usage fee provisions also depend on whether that initiative appears on the ballot and is approved. The gasoline and special fuel tax rates do not apply to the special fuels listed as exceptions in the statute. The fuel tax rates of 14 cents per gallon for gasoline and 13 cents for special fuel apply from January 1, 2027, through June 30, 2030. Other listed rates and transfers have separate dates beginning in 2027; some temporary rates end by June 30, 2030, or July 1, 2031.

A state road enterprise charges permit fees and uses the money for state highway surface work. The fees apply to permits for oversized and overweight vehicles and longer vehicle combinations. The enterprise may issue revenue bonds and use available money for its work. Permit fees must be reasonably calculated to cover the costs of the services. Local permit fees are excluded from the rule sending state permit fees to the enterprise fund. The enterprise begins charging fees January 1, 2027. The transportation department sends covered permit fees collected on or after that date to the state treasury for the enterprise fund.