Last week, the House and Senate overrode the Governor’s veto, and H. 3516 became law.

Below is a breakdown of the bill provided by SC Alliance to Fix Our Roads:

Funding Components:

• Increase the fuel tax by 12 cents over the next six years (2 cents per year).
• Increase biennial registration fees on private passenger vehicles by $16.
• Impose an "Infrastructure Maintenance Fee" upon the purchase of a motor vehicle (capped at $500) This increases/replaces the current $300 sales tax/cap on motor vehicles.
• Impose a one-time $250 fee for anyone who transfers a motor vehicle from another state.
• Creates new registration fees for alternative vehicles: $120 for vehicles powered by anything other than motor fuel; and $60 for hybrid vehicles.
• Imposes a Motor Carrier Roads Use Fee.

SCDOT Commission Reform:

• 9-member commission: 7 representing the congressional districts, 2 at-large; all appointed by the governor.
• JTRC screens and approves all appointments.
• The 7 congressional appointments are confirmed by congressional delegation members from both the House and Senate.
• The 2 at-large appointments must be approved with the advice and consent of both bodies (requires free conference approval).
• All 9 commissioners serve at the will of the governor.

Tax Rebate & Credits:

• Creates tax rebates to offset S.C. residents paying a higher gas tax and driving fees.
• Earned income tax credit.
• Two wage earner tax credit.
• Tuition tax credits.
• Manufacturing, business personal property tax reduction.

SCAPA attended a press conference at the Statehouse last week celebrating the passage of the roads bill.

After several years of working with SC FOR and the Roads Coalition, we finally achieved our goal of increasing funding for our state’s roads and bridges. Thank you to all of SCAPA’s members for their meetings, phone calls, emails and letters to members of the SC General Assembly. This could not have happened without all of your help. A special thank you as well to Sunnie and John DeWorken for representing SCAPA at the Statehouse!!