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HARTFORD—State Rep. Tom Delnicki (R-14) and his House Republican colleagues were compelled to use a parliamentary procedure to circumvent Democrat opposition to a bill that would save inflation-weary businesses and residents money by eliminating the new highway use tax (HUT) on heavyweight trucks.
Delnicki and members of the House Republican caucus petitioned to raise H.B. 5290, An Act Eliminating the Highway Use Tax, after the Finance Committee’s Democratic leadership refused to even hear it. Republicans on Tuesday secured the required 51 petition signatures to force a public hearing on the bill.
Rep. Delnicki, who opposed the highway use tax when it was passed and was among several lawmakers to propose legislation to repeal it in 2023 and 2022, was disappointed that the Finance Committee had no plans to hold a public hearing after so many members opposed this new tax, behalf of their constituents.
“I was strongly opposed this truck tax when the House debated the law in 2021, because the truth of the matter is the ‘Truck Tax’ isn’t really a tax on trucks it’s really a tax on Connecticut families. Every single product we buy or consume will cost more due to this burdensome tax. I look forward to a full public hearing on the possible repeal of the highway use tax so South Windsor residents and the rest of state can have their voices heard.”
Passed by the Legislative 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 HUT became effective Jan. 1, and businesses subjected to the tax are expected to make their first payments to the state on Feb. 28.
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