A bill to raise trailer registration fees for truckers in Louisiana has made it past the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works. The vote on Monday, May 12 was 6-3 in favor, but the bill now heads to the appropriations committee since it impacts the state budget.
What’s in the bill: House Bill 660 would bump yearly registration for trailers and sub-trailers from $10 to $15, and for light trailers from $3 to $4.50.
- Lawmakers pushing the bill say the higher fees are needed to offset inflation and keep up maintenance on rural roads that truckers depend on.
- The last time the fees were raised was 2002, and costs have gone up a lot since then.
The pushback: Several committee members argued truckers are already feeling financial pain and that the fee hike is just too much right now.
- Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn said, “These people are hurting, and it’s just no way that I can go along with this.”
- A representative from the Louisiana Motor Transport Association spoke out, saying a fuel tax shared across everyone would be more fair instead of going after truckers alone.
Why it matters: Bill sponsors say the funds from trailer registration are the only dedicated money the state has for repairing rural roads, according to The Center Square.
The bill is headed next to the appropriations committee for further review. The proposed increases would take effect yearly if passed.