10/15/04-Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. signed legislation – HB1467 – this spring that increases vehicle registration fees between 36 percent and 89 percent, depending on the type of vehicle, to generate additional revenue for the Transportation Trust Fund.

4/15/04-Gov. Robert Ehrlich signed a transportation revenue package April 13 that will hike vehicle registration fees for Maryland drivers.
The new law is expected to raise $237 million a year for road projects and mass transit across the state.
The plan relies primarily on an annual increase in vehicle-registration fees. The surcharge amount would be determined by the cost of the vehicle but would not be computed as a percentage.

4/12/04-Maryland drivers likely will see a hike in their vehicle registration fees July 1, after senators gave final approval to Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s transportation fee package April 9.
The legislation, which is expected to raise $165 million a year for road projects and mass transit, was approved by a 29-18 vote. The House passed the bill last month.
It now heads to the governor, who is expected to sign it, even though House lawmakers stripped $90 million from it in committee.
The fees, along with adjusted revenue forecasts, would generate $233 million a year for the transportation trust fund — relying primarily on an annual increase in vehicle-registration fees. The surcharge amount would be determined by the cost of the vehicle but would not be computed as a percentage.
The package – HB1467 – falls short of the goal set by a task force that outlined the road projects needed in Maryland by 2010. The panel determined last year that $17 billion worth of projects are needed over the next six years; the plan as amended would allow the department to raise $12 billion.
The House voted 72-69 March 19 to approve the stripped-down version of Ehrlich’s $320 million plan. Lawmakers took out fee increases for moving violations and drunken driving. Also removed was a proposal to funnel rental car sales taxes, worth $32 million.
For bill status, call (410) 946-5400.

4/6/04-A Senate panel approved a transportation fee package April 5 that would leave Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. well short of his funding goal.
Deciding not to replenish $90 million the House cut from the governor’s transportation legislation, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee voted unanimously to approve fees that would raise $165 million a year for road projects and mass transit.
The plan, which has been forwarded to the Senate floor, along with adjusted revenue forecasts would generate $233 million a year for the transportation trust fund — relying primarily on an increase in vehicle-registration fees.
The legislation – HB1467 – falls short of the goal set by a task force that outlined the road projects needed in Maryland by 2010. The panel determined last year that $17 billion worth of projects are needed over the next six years; the plan approved by the Senate committee would allow the department to raise $12 billion.
The House voted 72-69 March 19 to approve the stripped-down version of Ehrlich’s $320 million plan. Lawmakers took out fee increases for moving violations and drunken driving.
Also removed was a proposal to funnel rental-car sales taxes, worth $32 million.
The governor proposed the increases after rejecting an idea to raise the state’s fuel tax.
For bill status, call (410) 946-5400.

3/20/04-HB1467, the governor’s transportation fee bill, passed the House March 19 by a 72-69 vote. It next heads to the Senate for consideration.
The bill, which would return approximately $52 million in highway user revenues to municipalities and counties, was significantly amended to eliminate higher fines on drunken drivers and reallocate a portion of rental car taxes.
Left in the bill were miscellaneous Motor Vehicle Administration charges and higher vehicle registration fees.
For bill status, call (410) 946-5400.