HAWAII REJECTS CONSUMER TAXES ON GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

SEMA defeated two Hawaii bills that sought to tax vehicle owners in an attempt to reduce motor-vehicle emissions. The first bill would have imposed a new-car surcharge tax, which would have escalated based on carbon emissions. Depending on the vehicle purchased, this surcharge could have required owners to pay up to $2,500 more for the vehicle.

The second bill would have established a progressive fee for state motor vehicles based on engine size. These fees would be collected by the state at the time of initial vehicle registration and at subsequent renewals of registration. These fees would be in addition to fees and taxes normally required for registration or renewal. SEMA supports a national solution to greenhouse gas emissions control. A patchwork of state rules would significantly increase the complexity and cost of compliance for the industry.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.