State Representatives Haines and DeCaprio Support Public Hearing to Eliminate the Highway Use Tax

HARTFORD— State Representatives Irene Haines (R-34) and Mark DeCaprio (R-48) enthusiastically support a House Republican 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. This legislation creates an additional burden to the trucking industry and Connecticut residents in general who are already feeling the impacts of inflation.

On Tuesday, Republicans successfully petitioned to raise H.B. 5290, An Act Eliminating the Highway Use Tax, after the Finance Committee’s Democratic leadership refused to hear it. The required 51 petition signatures were secured to force a public hearing on the bill.

“The additional tax burden of the trucking industry is really an additional tax burden on every person here in Connecticut,” Rep. Haines said. “That is a cost that will be passed down to all of us as consumers of goods and services. Being one of the highest taxed states in the country, I support this bill in hopes of giving our residents some relief.”

Passed by Democrats in June of 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.

“With numerous farms in each town of the district I represent, I hear first-hand the difficulties and costs that this bill has levied against the agricultural and trucking industries,” said Rep. DeCaprio. “Ultimately, the residents of Connecticut are bearing the brunt of numerous taxes in our state, and they should have the right to have their voices heard on these subjects.”

A public hearing will be set in the near future for Connecticut residents to weigh-in on this proposal.

State Representative Irene Haines represents the 34th General Assembly District which includes the towns of East Haddam, East Hampton, and Salem.

State Representative Mark DeCaprio represents the 48th General Assembly District which includes the towns of Bozrah, Colchester, Franklin, and Lebanon.

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