Bill S.75, introduced by Senators White, Clarkson, Gulick, Major, and Watson, aims to enhance transportation initiatives in Vermont by appropriating funds for various vehicle incentive programs, including the MileageSmart Program, the Incentive Program for New Plug-In Electric Vehicles, the Replace Your Ride Program, and the eBike Incentive Program. The bill proposes a retail delivery fee of $0.30 on taxable deliveries to support public transit services and introduces efficiency fees and rebates for new light trucks, passenger automobiles, and sport utility vehicles based on their fuel efficiency. It emphasizes the importance of complete streets principles, green infrastructure, and public outreach campaigns on transportation topics, while also requiring the Agency of Transportation to consider environmental impacts in project evaluations.

Additionally, the bill includes amendments to existing laws regarding municipal funding for transportation projects, local speed limits, and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). It allows municipalities to set speed limits without an engineering investigation and repeals the requirement that a lack of evidence from a traffic study invalidates a local speed limit ordinance after five years. The bill also establishes guidelines for landlords regarding EVSE installation in rental properties, ensuring tenants can request installations. Furthermore, it appropriates $1,500,000 from the Transportation Fund for flood resiliency projects and allocates funds for first-time car buyer workshops to educate disadvantaged Vermonters about vehicle purchasing processes.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 23-383, 19-10b, 19-10c, 19-10i, 19-306, 19-309a, 19-309b, 23-1007, 24-4345a, 23-1139