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Hartford—State Representative Patrick Callahan (R-108) has joined his colleagues in the House Republican caucus in using a parliamentary procedure to bring a bill to a public hearing that would eliminate the new highway use tax (HUT) on heavyweight trucks.
Republicans petitioned to raise H.B. 5290, An Act Eliminating the Highway Use Tax, after the Finance Committee’s Democratic leadership refused to hear it. Republicans on Tuesday secured the required 51 petition signatures to force a public hearing on the bill.
“These are the workers who saved us from empty store shelves during the pandemic and now this fee will only add to the cost of doing essential business in Connecticut. The truck mileage tax will add a layer of inflation that those in Connecticut simply cannot afford. During these turbulent financial times, record state surpluses should be returned to those who created them – the taxpayers,” said Callahan.
Passed by Democrats in 2021, the HUT is levied according to a truck’s weight, classification and number of miles traveled in Connecticut. Targeted truck owners are required to obtain a permit to remit payments to the state, and it’s expected to generate $90 million in annual revenue.
The Highway Use Tax became effective Jan. 1, and businesses subjected to the tax are expected to make their first payments to the state on Feb. 28.
