Emissions and Maintenance Inspection Program Exemption (bill): SB 1380 allows exemptions from the emissions and maintenance inspection programs for any qualified hybrid motor vehicle or clean alternative fuel if such vehicle obtains a rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of at least 50 miles per gallon during city fuel economy tests unless remote sensing devices indicate the hybrid vehicle or clean alternative fuel vehicle may not meet current emissions standards.
Introduced 3/22/05, Reported favorably by the Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee 9/20/05.
Promotion of Alternative Fuels and Hybrid vehicles (bill): S.B. 2220. For the years 2006-2010, individuals that purchase a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle, which can be powered by ethanol, low-sulfur diesel, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and hydrogen will register for a special placard and receive a number of incentives, including: an income tax deduction of $2000; a waiver for the initial $27.50 application fee for the Fast Lane Transponder; waiver of emissions inspections for hybrids getting at least an EPA-estimated 50mpg city; right to travel in HOV lanes regardless of passengers for three years following the enactment of the bill; discounts or free parking in municipalities which choose to participate.
The bill will require that five percent of all new state agency "fleet vehicles" be hybrids or run on alternative fuel, with 50 percent of the state fleet reliant on alternative fuels by 2010. A $10 million bond would establish a fund controlled by the Division of Energy Resources to assist municipalities and regional transit authorities in building alternative fuel stations on public lands and acquiring alternative fuel vehicles or hybrids.
Corporations with fleets of more than 50 comprised of at least 10 percent alternative fuel vehicles would receive a tax credit of half the difference in price between those vehicles and their conventional gasoline counterparts. Update: This bill, originally S. 2176, was revised several times and finally passed by the Senate on a 38-0 vote on 9/29/05, and discharged to the House Rules Committee on 10/26/05.
State Hybrid HOV (proposal): Officials of the Commonwealth’s transportation and environmental agencies, are considering permitting hybrid vehicles to be permitted regardless of number of passengers on the movable six-mile zipper lane on the Southeast Expressway during morning and evening rush hour, and the 2-mile high-occupancy lane on Interstate 93 southbound from Somerville to the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge.
State Hybrid HOV, State Fleet Purchasing, and Tax Exemption (bill): SB 1751 would require the state to purchase ultra low emission vehicles, super ultra low emission vehicles or zero emission vehicles certified under California's Low Emission Vehicle program. Would allow drivers of low emission vehicles to use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes without regard to the number of passengers in the vehicle. Would provide a sales tax exemption for the purchase of a low emission vehicle. Currently in Joint Committee.This bill was not enacted by the end of the legislative session.
Sales Tax Exemption (bill): SB 1768 would eliminate the state sales tax on the purchase of electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Currently in Joint Committee.This bill was not enacted by the end of the legislative session.