Bill H.488 addresses the fiscal year 2026 Transportation Program in Vermont, incorporating various amendments to existing transportation laws. It adopts the Agency of Transportation's proposed program, contingent on available funding, and introduces new definitions relevant to the transportation sector, such as "candidate project" and "electric vehicle supply equipment." The bill authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to relinquish a segment of Vermont Route 36 in St. Albans and makes specific amendments to the Rail Program, including the deletion of a project and the addition of funding for depot repairs in White River Junction. Additionally, it revises the structure and responsibilities of the Transportation Board, ensuring its attachment to the Agency of Transportation and clarifying its powers.

The bill also includes amendments related to funding for town highway structures and the implementation of a mileage-based user fee for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) starting July 1, 2026, contingent on sufficient funding. It establishes an annual appropriation for grants to municipalities for the maintenance of class 2 and class 3 town highways, with funding adjustments tied to economic indicators. Furthermore, it specifies that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) will incur an electric vehicle infrastructure fee but not the mileage-based user fee. The Agency of Transportation is empowered to seek federal grants to support this fee structure, while also allocating funds to promote electric vehicle adoption through stakeholder coordination and infrastructure development. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 5-3408, 19-306
As Passed By the House -- Official: 5-3408, 19-306
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 5-3408, 19-306