Oregon text sets road-use charges and vehicle rebate rules

Owners or lessees would pay a charge for each metered mile that a covered vehicle travels on Oregon highways. Coverage includes passenger electric vehicles, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric delivery vehicles. Medical-goods delivery vehicles are excluded from the electric delivery vehicle definition. The rate would be five percent of the per-gallon license tax rate in effect when the charge is due. The text also provides an option to pay a flat annual fee, but leaves its amount blank. The vehicle definitions apply to reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2027, for electric vehicles and electric delivery vehicles, and on or after July 1, 2028, for hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Section 4’s definition amendments would operate July 1, 2031.

The Department of Environmental Quality would direct money in the Zero-Emission Incentive Fund to Charge Ahead Oregon rebates and would not provide rebates under ORS 468.444. The program serves households with income no higher than 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines and organizations that provide services to people with low or moderate incomes. Rebates may support eligible new or used light-duty electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Rebates could be paid only if enough money is available. Eligible applicants must meet the income or service-provider rules and other program requirements. A recipient who sells the vehicle or ends a lease before 24 months generally must repay a prorated amount; the administrator may waive repayment for unforeseeable or unavoidable circumstances. The direction to use Zero-Emission Incentive Fund money for Charge Ahead rebates and the restriction on ORS 468.444 rebates would end January 2, 2040. The act would otherwise take effect on the 91st day after the 2026 regular session adjourns.

The Department of Transportation would report estimated highway upkeep costs and miles driven, then recommend a per-mile charge rate to legislative committees. The report would go to the Legislature’s committees on revenue and transportation. The report must include estimates for state and local transportation systems and measures for assessing maintenance and preservation needs. The report would be due no later than the date set for the highway cost allocation study report under state law.