Transportation Interim

Directs the Division of Audits to conduct performance audits of the Department of Transportation. Alters the duties of the Joint Committee on Transportation and the Continuous Improvement Advisory Committee. Provides that the Governor shall appoint the Director of Transportation. Revises the formula for weight-mile taxes. Provides for diesel fuel to be taxed in the same manner as gasoline. Modifies the definition of "combined weight" for purposes of motor carrier regulation. Allows the Department of Transportation to use a motor carrier's registration card as the tax enrollment document instead of the vehicle's weight identifier. Eliminates reinstatement fees for weight identifiers. Increases and adds transportation-related fees and taxes. Provides uses of revenues. Imposes a mandatory per-mile road usage charge for registered owners and lessees of vehicles over time beginning with electric vehicles on July 1, 2026. Allows an annual fee in lieu of the mandatory per-mile road usage charge. Imposes a surcharge on certain vehicle registration fees and recreational vehicle trip permits. Transfers the proceeds of the surcharge to the Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Account. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to provide reimbursements for the costs of towing and disposing of abandoned recreational vehicles. Sunsets the new surcharges, fund and reimbursements on January 2, 2036. Requires studies on various transportation-related subjects. Adds new criteria for the Oregon Transportation Commission to take into consideration when updating the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. Expands the allowed use of moneys in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund to include capital expenses of maintaining existing light rail. Provides for an annual transfer of moneys into the Multimodal Active Transportation Fund.

Repeals the motor vehicle pollution control system inspection program, contingent upon the approval of revisions to the federal Clean Air Act state implementation plan by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Establishes the Transportation Infrastructure and Congestion Reduction Fee. Directs the Department of Transportation to report to interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to transportation on current and potential future uses of the fee. Establishes the Transportation Infrastructure and Congestion Reduction Account in the State Highway Fund. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Redirects revenues from the bicycle excise tax, tax on wages and vehicle privilege tax to the State Highway Fund. Directs the Department of Transportation to use redirected funds for specific purposes related to highways. Creates the Trucking Overpayment Credit Account. Directs the department to provide refunds to taxpayers who overpaid weight-mile taxes. Directs the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to decrease either the weight-mile tax or the motor vehicle fuel taxes if the highway cost allocation study indicates that a vehicle class is paying more than its fair share for the use of the highways in the state and the Legislative Assembly does not enact a measure to correct the imbalance within 120 days of the Joint Committee on Transportation receiving a report on the study. Revises the formula for weight-mile taxes. Provides for diesel fuel to be taxed in the same manner as gasoline. Modifies the definition of "combined weight" for purposes of motor carrier regulation. Allows the Department of Transportation to use a motor carrier's registration card as the tax enrollment document instead of the vehicle's weight identifier. Eliminates reinstatement fees for weight identifiers.