House Bill 3444 - Hybrid Registration Fees
Dear hybrid owners and other interested Oregonians:
House Bill 3444, introduced on behalf of the Oregon Environmental Council, would structure auto registration fees so that the most egregious gas-guzzling vehicles pay somewhat higher registration fees, while super fuel-efficient vehicles pay somewhat lower registration fees. Specifically, vehicles whose fuel economy is under the Oregon fleet average by 25% or more would pay $40 per year, and vehicles whose fuel economy is over the fleet average by 25% or more would pay $20 per year; all others would pay $30 per year.
A public hearing will be held this coming Monday, April 7 2003, at 8:30 AM in the House Transportation Committee, in Hearing Room 357 of the Capitol Building.
If you can make it to the Capitol, we would very much appreciate your testimony in support of the bill. See the background and talking points at the end of this e-mail.
Likewise, calls or e-mails to the House Transportation Committee members would be very useful, especially if you live in their district. Contact information follows.
- Rep. ALAN BROWN, Chair (cosponsor of bill) 503-986-1410 ~ rep.alanbrown@state.or.us
District 10, which includes Lincoln City and Yachats
- Rep. E. TERRY BEYER, Vice Chair 503-986-1412 ~ rep.terrybeyer@state.or.us
District 12, Springfield
- Rep. JOHN MABREY, Vice Chair 503-986-1459 ~ rep.johnmabrey@state.or.us
District 59, Wasco, Sherman, Grant, Jefferson, Gilliam and Wheeler Counties and Black Butte Ranch in Deschutes County
- Rep. JACKIE DINGFELDER (chief sponsor of bill) 503-986-1445 ~ rep.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
District 45, a portion of N/NE Portland)
- Rep. GEORGE GILMAN 503-986-1455 ~ rep.georgegilman@state.or.us
District 55, Klamath, Lake & Crook Counties
- Rep. MITCH GREENLICK (cosponsor of bill) 503-986-1433 ~ rep.mitchgreenlick@state.or.us
District 33, a portion of NW Portland and Washington County
- Rep. CLIFF ZAUNER 503-986-1422 ~ rep.cliffzauner@state.or.us
District 22, along I-5 from Woodburn into parts of Salem
BACKGROUND
Last session, the Oregon Legislature doubled the registration fee on hybrid gas-electric vehicles, but not on conventional passenger vehicles. Although most hybrid owners can afford to pay more, this contradictory message was not lost on them. Charging more for hybrids (and other very fuel-efficient vehicles) is not entirely logical because overall, the costs they impose on society are much lower. As one hybrid owner said "While not huge in financial impact, it sends the wrong impression from the state to potential buyers trying to do the right thing." HB 3444 would correct this mistake, reversing the negative incentive and treating all highly fuel-efficient vehicles the same.
Learn more about HB 3444 at: www.orcouncil.org/Laws/RegFeeFactsheet.PDF.
The bill language can be found here
TALKING POINTS
Climate change and air pollution are serious problems for Oregon. Hybrid owners and the owners of other highly fuel-efficient vehicles are helping reduce both air quality problems and the specter of global warming. The state should be doing everything it can to encourage improved fuel economy and cleaner cars. Charging twice as much to register a hybrid is a disincentive to potential hybrid car owners. This bill would do the reverse - encourage Oregonians to purchase more fuel-efficient cars and discourage them from purchasing less fuel-efficient cars.
Please contact me with any questions. And thanks!
Chris Hagerbaumer, Program Director Oregon Environmental Council
520 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite
940 Portland, OR 97204-1535
503-222-1963 x102 503-222-1405 (fax)
