House Bill H0144

2015 Freedom Index Score: (-21)

Analyst: Parrish Miller
Date of analysis: February 17, 2015

ANALYST'S NOTE: House Bill 144 is 37-page bill which contains hundreds of millions of dollars in tax and
fee increases. It also creates an "enforcement pilot program" which expands the power of government.

Point No. 1 Does it create, expand, or enlarge any agency, board, program, function, or activity of
government? Conversely, does it eliminate or curtail the size or scope of government?
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 creates Section 67-2914A, Idaho Code, which creates a new program
to increase enforcement of laws related to dyed fuel. Subsection 1 declares that "of the money
deposited into the Idaho law enforcement fund, the director of the Idaho state police, in
consultation with the director of the Idaho transportation department, shall make available in
state fiscal years 2016 through 2018 two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) each year for
the purpose of a pilot program to increase enforcement of the dyed fuel limitations as provided
for in section 63-2425, Idaho Code." [Page 37, lines 19-24] (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 creates Section 67-2914A, Idaho Code, which grants the director of
the Idaho state police extraordinary powers to "adopt, amend or rescind rules as he deems
necessary..." Subsection 2 declares that "for the length of the pilot program, the director of the
Idaho state police shall have the authority to carry out enforcement of the state's dyed fuel laws
as provided for in section 63-2425, Idaho Code, and may, pursuant to the provisions of chapter
52, title 67, Idaho Code, adopt, amend or rescind rules as he deems necessary for the proper
performance of all duties associated with the fulfillment of the pilot program." [Page 37, lines
25-30] (-1)

Point No. 5 Does it directly or indirectly create or increase any taxes, fees, or other assessments?
Conversely, does it eliminate or reduce any taxes, fees, or other assessments?

ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 modifies Section 41-4909, Idaho Code, to increase the "transfer fee"
from one cent per gallon to four cents per gallon "on the delivery or storage of all petroleum
products as defined in subsection (23) of section 41-4903, Idaho Code, delivered or stored
within the state of Idaho." [Page 4, lines 5-10] This is a 300 percent fee increase. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 modifies further modifies Section 41-4909 to delete language which
suspends the "transfer fee" when the "unencumbered balance in the trust fund" equals $35
million. [Page 4, lines 39-46] (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 modifies Section 49-402, Idaho Code, to increase the annual
registration fees on vehicles and pickup trucks not in excess of 8,000 pounds.
For vehicles 1-2 years old, the annual registration fee increases from $48 to $72.
For vehicles 3-6 years old, the annual registration fee increases from $36 to $54.
For vehicles 7 years old or older, the annual registration fee increases from $24 to $36.
[Page 9, lines 11-21] This is a 50 percent fee increase. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 further modifies Section 49-402, Idaho Code, to increase the annual
registration fees on "school buses operated either by a nonprofit, nonpublic school or operated
pursuant to a service contract with a school district for transporting children to or from school
or in connection with school approved activities." The annual registration fee increases from $24
to $36. [Page 9, lines 41-46] This is a 50 percent fee increase. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 further modifies Section 49-402, Idaho Code, to increase the annual
registration fees on "all motorcycles and motor-driven cycles which comply with the federal
motor vehicle safety standards, operated upon the public highways" The annual registration fee
increases from $9 to $14. [Page 9, lines 47-49] This is a 56 percent fee increase. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 modifies Section 49-402A, Idaho Code, to increase registration fees on
utility trailers which are defined as "a trailer or semitrailer designed primarily to be drawn
behind a passenger car or pickup truck for domestic and utility purposes."
The annual registration fee increases from $5 to $8.
The five-year registration fee increases from $20 to $30.
The ten-year registration fee increases from $30 to $45.
[Page 11, lines 28-37] This is a 60 percent fee increase for annual registrations and a 50 percent
fee increase for five- and ten-year registrations. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 modifies Section 49-432, Idaho Code, to increase the cost of "a permit
in lieu of registration" which may be issued "when a vehicle or combination of vehicles subject
to registration is to be moved upon the public highways in the state of Idaho."
The fee for a 120-hour permit for one vehicle increases from $60 to $90.

The fee for a 120-hour permit for a combination of vehicles, where such combination of
vehicles includes more than one unregistered vehicle increases from $120 to $180.
The fee for a "fuel permit" increases from $60 to $90.
The fee for a thirty-day unladen weight permit increases from $60 to $90.
[Page 11, lines 46-47 and Page 12, lines 1-18] This is a 50 percent fee increase. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 further modifies Section 49-432, Idaho Code, to increase the cost of
permits to operate "a vehicle or combination of vehicles in excess of the registered maximum
gross vehicle weight up to a maximum of one hundred twenty-nine thousand (129,000) pounds
gross vehicle weight."
The fee for a 120-hour permit to increase gross weight increases from $50 to $75. This is
a 50 percent fee increase.
The fee for a 30-day permit to increase gross vehicle weight for a vehicle with a
registered gross vehicle weight of 50,001-60,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds will increase
from $225 to $340. This is a 51 percent fee increase.
The fee for a 30-day permit to increase gross vehicle weight for a vehicle with a
registered gross vehicle weight of 50,001-60,000 pounds to 86,000 pounds will increase
from $250 to $375. This is a 50 percent fee increase.
The fee for a 30-day permit to increase gross vehicle weight for a vehicle with a
registered gross vehicle weight of 50,001-60,000 pounds to 96,000 pounds will increase
from $275 to $390. This is a 42 percent fee increase.
The fee for a 30-day permit to increase gross vehicle weight for a vehicle with a
registered gross vehicle weight of 50,001-60,000 pounds to 106,000 pounds will
increase from $300 to $440. This is a 47 percent fee increase.
The fee for a 30-day permit to increase gross vehicle weight for a vehicle with a
registered gross vehicle weight of 50,001-60,000 pounds to 116,000 pounds will
increase from $325 to $490. This is a 51 percent fee increase.
The fee for a 30-day permit to increase gross vehicle weight for a vehicle with a
registered gross vehicle weight of 50,001-60,000 pounds to 129,000 pounds will
increase from $350 to $525. This is a 50 percent fee increase.
[Page 12, lines 19-37] (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 modifies Section 49-434, Idaho Code, to increase registration fees on
all commercial vehicles, noncommercial vehicles, and on all farm vehicles having a maximum
gross weight not in excess of sixty thousand (60,000) pounds.
The annual registration fee for noncommercial and farm vehicles with a maximum gross
weight of 8,001-16,000 pounds will increase from $48 to $60. This is a 25 percent fee
increase.
The annual registration fee for noncommercial and farm vehicles with a maximum gross
weight of 16,001-26,000 pounds will increase from $61.08 to $76.35. This is a 25
percent fee increase.

The annual registration fee for noncommercial and farm vehicles with a maximum gross
weight of 26,001-30,000 pounds will increase from $91.68 to $114.60. This is a 25
percent fee increase.
The annual registration fee for noncommercial and farm vehicles with a maximum gross
weight of 30,001-40,000 pounds will increase from $130.08 to $162.60. This is a 25
percent fee increase.
The annual registration fee for noncommercial and farm vehicles with a maximum gross
weight of 40,001-50,000 pounds will increase from $188.28 to $261.18. This is a 39
percent fee increase.
The annual registration fee for noncommercial and farm vehicles with a maximum gross
weight of 50,001-60,000 pounds will increase from $311.88 to $389.85. This is a 25
percent fee increase.
The annual registration fee for commercial vehicles and wreckers with a maximum gross
weight or unladen weight respectively of 8,001-16,000 pounds will increase from $48 to
$60. This is a 25 percent fee increase.
The annual registration fee for commercial vehicles and wreckers with a maximum gross
weight or unladen weight respectively of 16,001-26,000 pounds will increase from
$143.40 to $179.25. This is a 25 percent fee increase.
The annual registration fee for commercial vehicles and wreckers with a maximum gross
weight or unladen weight respectively of 26,001-30,000 pounds will increase from
$223.80 to $279.75. This is a 25 percent fee increase.
The annual registration fee for commercial vehicles and wreckers with a maximum gross
weight or unladen weight respectively of 30,001-40,000 pounds will increase from
$291.60 to $364.50. This is a 25 percent fee increase.
The annual registration fee for commercial vehicles and wreckers with a maximum gross
weight or unladen weight respectively of 40,001-50,000 pounds will increase from
$360.00 to $450.00. This is a 25 percent fee increase.
The annual registration fee for commercial vehicles and wreckers with a maximum gross
weight or unladen weight respectively of 50,001-60,000 pounds will increase from
$515.40 to $644.25. This is a 25 percent fee increase.
[Page 13, lines 20-42 and Page 14, lines 1-6] (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 further modifies Section 49-434, Idaho Code, to increase registration
fees on trailers.
The annual registration fee for a "trailer or semitrailer in a combination of vehicles" will
increase from $15.00 to $18.75.
The annual registration fee for a "rental utility trailer with a gross weight of two
thousand (2,000) pounds or less" will increase from $8 to $10.
The annual registration fee for a "rental utility trailer with a gross weight over two
thousand (2,000) pounds" will increase from $15.00 to $18.75.
[Page 14, lines 11-16] This is a 25 percent fee increase. (-1)

ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 further modifies Section 49-434, Idaho Code, to increase the
registration fee on all commercial and farm vehicles having a maximum gross weight in excess of
sixty thousand (60,000) pounds. This registration fee is based upon the maximum gross weight
of a vehicle as declared by the owner and the total number of miles driven on roads and
highways in the state, county, city and highway district systems in Idaho, and if registered under
the international registration plan (IRP), in all other jurisdictions. The chart used to calculate
these fees is based both on the maximum gross weight of the vehicle and the total miles driven.
It is too lengthy to reproduce in full, but the registration fee will increase from $223 to $279 on
the low end (a vehicle of 60,001-62,000 pounds traveling 1 to 7,500 miles) and from $5,860 to
$7,325 on the high end (a vehicle of 128,001-129,000 pounds traveling over 50,000 miles.)
[Page 16 - Page 18, lines 1-35] This is a 25 percent fee increase. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 further modifies Section 49-434, Idaho Code, to increase the
registration fee on a "commercial or farm vehicle registered for more than sixty thousand
(60,000) pounds up to one hundred six thousand (106,000) pounds traveling fewer than two
thousand five hundred (2,500) miles annually on roads and highways in the state, county, city
and highway district systems in Idaho." The annual registration fee increases from $255.00 to
$318.75. [Page 19, lines 3-10] This is a 25 percent fee increase. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 creates Section 49-457, Idaho Code, which imposes two new and
additional registration fees on electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles respectively. Subsection 1
reads as follows: "An electric vehicle fee of one hundred forty dollars ($140) shall be collected in
addition to all other registration fees assessed pursuant to this chapter on each electric vehicle
registered." [Page 20, lines 4-7] (-1)
Subsection 2 reads as follows: "A hybrid vehicle fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) shall be
collected in addition to all other registration fees assessed pursuant to this chapter on each
hybrid vehicle registered." [Page 20, lines 8-10] (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 modifies Section 49-1004, Idaho Code, to increase permit fees for
overweight and oversize loads. The exact formula used is complex and involves both weight and
number of axles, but the current rates are essentially 4 cents per mile per 2,000 pound
increment over specified limits up to specified maximums. Beyond these maximums, the current
rate is $1.02 per mile plus 7 cents per mile for each additional 2,000 pound increment. These
rates will increase to 6 cents, $1.56, and 10 cents respectively. [Page 21, lines 1-20] These are 50
percent, 53 percent, and 43 percent fee increases respectively. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 modifies Section 63-2402, Idaho Code, to increase the gas tax on
regular gasoline from its current rate of 25 cents per gallon to a rate of 33 cents per gallon.
[Page26, lines 39-42] This is a 32 percent tax increase. (-1)

ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 further modifies Section 63-2402, Idaho Code, to increase the gas tax
on diesel fuel by an additional 4 cents above the regular gas tax. This will increase the tax to 37
cents per gallon on diesel fuel. [Page26, lines 43-46] This is a 48 percent tax increase. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 further modifies Section 63-2402, Idaho Code, to additionally increase
the gas tax on regular gasoline and diesel fuel from their increased rates of 33 cents per gallon
and 37 cents per gallon respectively at a rate of 1 cent per gallon per year (starting July 1, 2016)
in perpetuity. An allowance is made that the Governor may suspend this additional 1 cent
increase for a year by issuing an executive order prior to the start of the fiscal year, but there is
no obligation for him to ever use this authority. [Page 26, lines 47-48 and Page 27, lines 1-6] This
is a 3 percent tax increase in 2016 and a slightly lower percentage increase each year
thereafter. (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 144 modifies Sections 63-2402, 63-2423, and 64-2424, Idaho Code, to
remove an alternative taxing option for owners of vehicles powered by gaseous fuels. This
change will result in a $375,000 increase in government revenue funded through this de-facto
tax increase on impacted persons. [Page 27, lines 23-28; Page 30, lines 26-28; and Page 31, lines
6-8 and 18-37] (-1)