State & Federal Electric Drive Laws

2009:

Click this U.S. Department of Energy link to see a comprehensive list of state and federal electric drive laws: [http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/electricity_laws.html]

State Laws Enacted in 2008 – as of 6.04.08

COLORADO
HOUSE BILL 1013
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 9, 2008
LAST-ACTION:   MAY 21, 2008; Signed by GOVERNOR.

County and Municipal Sales Tax Exemptions for Low emission vehicles  
SYNOPSIS: Allows for county and municipal adoption of sales and use tax exemptions for sales of low emission vehicles and power sources as well as other specified items. 
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/9E62314252818B27872573A3007A2151?open&file=1013_enr.pdf

FLORIDA
HOUSE BILL 7135
DATE-INTRO:    APRIL 15, 2008
LAST-ACTION:   APRIL 30, 2008; To enrollment. [Not signed into law as of 6.4.08] 

Low emissions vehicles in HOV lanes

SYNOPSIS: Establishes multiple programs to promote efficiency and renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including amending s. 316.0741, F.S.;  requiring all hybrid and other low-emission and energy- efficient vehicles that do not meet the minimum occupancy requirement and are driven in a high-occupancy-vehicle  lane to comply with federally mandated minimum fuel economy standards; authorizing specified vehicles to use certain high-occupancy-vehicle lanes without payment of tolls; adopting Climate Friendly Public Business requirements for the use of “green” products, lodging, vehicles, and fuel.
http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=hb713503er.html&Directory=session/2008/House/bills/billtext/html/

MARYLAND
MD H.B. 1160
DATE-INTRO:    FEBRUARY 8, 2008
LAST-ACTION:  MAY 13, 2008; Chapter No. 385

Task Force on establishing minimum sound standards for vehicles

SYNOPSIS: Establishes a Quiet Vehicles and Pedestrian Safety Task Force; provides for the membership and duties of the Task Force; provides that the Task Force shall study the effects of vehicle sound on pedestrian safety and all available technology that may enhance the safety of blind pedestrians, and to make recommendations regarding minimum sound levels and the nature and characteristics of the minimum sound to be required for all new vehicles to be sold in the state.
http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/chapters_noln/Ch_385_hb1160T.pdf

Medium Speed Electric Vehicles

SYNOPSIS: Modifies the definition of passenger automobile to include medium-speed electric vehicles, which makes it subject to the same registration taxes and license plate provisions as other passenger motor vehicles. The section also amends the definition of "passenger vehicle" for vehicle registration purposes, so that a pickup truck or van with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000-13,000 pounds is not taxed as a passenger vehicle if it is used in furtherance of a commercial enterprise and is not regulated as a commercial vehicle. The "passenger vehicle" definition change is effective for vehicles with a registration period beginning after March 1, 2011
https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H3800.4.html&session=ls85

OKLAHOMA
SENATE BILL 1558
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 11, 2008
LAST-ACTION:  MAY 28, 2008; Chapter No. 126

Clean Vehicle Tax Credits

SYNOPSIS: Allows a one-time income tax credit for clean-burning fuel motor vehicles placed in service after 1990 and qualified electric motor vehicles (battery electric and hybrids) placed in service after 1995. The credit is 50% of the cost of the clean-burning or qualified electric vehicle property. If unable to identify the eligible basis in the property, the taxpayer may claim the lesser of 10% of the vehicle’s cost or $1500. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/SB/SB1558_ENR.RTF

OKLAHOMA
HOUSE BILL 2695
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 17, 2008
LAST-ACTION:   June 2, 2008; Signed by Governor.

Medium Speed Vehicle

SYNOPSIS: [various unrelated provisions] … relates to the State Vehicle License and Registration Act; defines low speed vehicle and defines a medium speed electric vehicle as a self propelled, electronically powered four wheel vehicle;
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/HB/HB2695_ENR.RTF

OKLAHOMA
SENATE BILL 1384
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 9, 2008
LAST-ACTION:   June 2, 2008; Signed by Governor

Medium Speed Vehicles

SYNOPSIS: Defines a medium-speed electrical vehicle as any self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle, equipped with a roll cage or crush-proof body design, whose speed attainable in one (1) mile is more than thirty (30) miles per hour but not greater than thirty-five (35) miles per hour; Requires medium-speed electrical vehicles to be registered pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act.  The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall promulgate rules for the titling and registration of medium-speed electric vehicles.

Provides that medium-speed electrical vehicles which have been titled and registered pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act may be operated on the roadways of this state with a posted speed limit of forty-five (45) miles per hour or less; provided, however, medium-speed electrical vehicles shall not be permitted to travel upon any highway in this state which is a part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways and which otherwise meets or exceeds the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations set forth in 49 C.F.R. 571.500.  Operators of medium-speed electrical vehicles shall comply with all traffic regulations and rules of conduct for the operation of motor vehicles on the roadways of this state provided by law.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/SB/SB1384_ENR.RTF

SOUTH CAROLINA
SENATE BILL 368
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 31, 2007
LAST-ACTION:   APRIL 28, 2008; Act No. 203 Became law w/out GOVERNOR signature.

Fleet Preferences

SYNOPSIS: Relates to the Fleet Management Program; provides that the program shall seek to improve environmental quality by decreasing the discharge of pollutants; provides that preference must be given to hybrid, plug-in hybrid, biodiesel, or flex-fuel vehicles when a comparable price and quality is available
http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess117_2007-2008/bills/368.htm

SOUTH DAKOTA
HOUSE BILL 1255
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 22, 2008
LAST-ACTION:   MARCH 13, 2008; Filed with Secretary of State.

Low Speed Vehicles 

SYNOPSIS: Defines low speed vehicles as
Provides for titling and registration of low-speed vehicles that meet the requirements of Part 49 Section 571.500 of the Code of Federal Regulations as amended to January 1, 2008; requires insurance for the vehicles. Provides that no low-speed vehicle may be operated on any highway where the speed limit is more than thirty-five miles per hour; allows local governments to adopt more stringent ordinances governing operation,    requires any operator to hold a valid driver's license; requires dealers to be licensed.
http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2008/Bills/HB1255STR.pdf

Low Speed Vehicles

SYNOPSIS: Amends the definition of low speed vehicle so that includes gasoline powered vehicles as well as electric vehicles which meet the other requirements of the definition.
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0719.pdf

TENNESSEE
SENATE BILL 2857
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 16, 2008
LAST-ACTION:   MAY 19, 2008; Signed by GOVERNOR. MAY 22, 2008; Public Chaptered. Chapter No. 959

Medium Speed Vehicles

SYNOPSIS: Allows a medium speed vehicle to be operated at a rate not to exceed 35 miles per hour only on streets where the posted speed limit is 40 miles per hour or less. Defines a "medium speed vehicle" as any four-wheeled electric vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than 30 miles per hour but not more than 35 miles per hour and that otherwise meets or exceeds the federal safety standards. The bill would not prohibit a medium speed vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 40 miles per hour. Any person operating a medium speed vehicle must have in possession a valid Class D driver license
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/

UTAH
2008 UT H.B. 106
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 3, 2008
LAST-ACTION:   MARCH 17, 2008; Signed by GOVERNOR.

Hybrid Vehicle Tax Credits

SYNOPSIS: Provides a tax credit for new vehicles meeting air quality and fuel economy standards; eliminates a provision excluding hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles from the tax credit; eliminates the clean fuel tax certificate; imposes a fuel tax on compressed natural gas for vehicles.

Revises the clean vehicle tax credit, extending the effective dates to beginning on or after January 1, 2009, and ending on or before December 31, 2013. The credit allows a taxpayer to claim a tax credit an amount equal to $750 for the original purchase of a new vehicle that is not fueled by compressed natural gas if the vehicle is registered in Utah and meets air quality and fuel economy standards; 50% of the cost of equipment for conversion, if certified by the board; or up to a maximum tax credit of $2,500 per motor vehicle, if the motor vehicle is fueled by propane, natural gas, or electricity. The provision’s original exclusion of “electric hybrid vehicles” was removed.  

Provides that low speed vehicles meeting federal regulations are motor vehicles for purposes of licensing, titling and insurance requirements.  Further provides that a person may not operate a low-speed vehicle that has been structurally altered from the original manufacturer's design; requires the user to obtain an annual clean special fuel tax certificate; exempts LSVs from a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program requirements.

Except to cross a highway at an intersection, a low-speed vehicle may not be operated on a highway with a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. A highway authority            may prohibit or restrict the operation of a low-speed vehicle on any highway under its
jurisdiction; a person may not operate a low-speed vehicle on a highway without
displaying on the rear of the low-speed vehicle, a slow-moving vehicle identification emblem that complies with the Society of Automotive Engineers standard SAE J943.
A person who violates Subsection (2), (3), [(6)] (5), or [(7)] (6) is guilty of a class C misdemeanor
http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/hbillenr/hb0106.htm

VIRGINIA
SB195 Signed into Law March 2 2008
LAST-ACTION:   MARCH 20, 2008; Acts of Assembly. Chapter No. 143.

Low Speed Vehicle Taxation

SYNOPSIS: Creates a separate classification for local taxation purposes for low-speed vehicles, which are defined as four-wheeled electrically powered vehicles with specified maximum speed that comply with federal safety standards.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+CHAP0143

VIRGINIA
VA H.B. 1014
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 8, 2008
LAST-ACTION:  MARCH 28, 2008; Acts of Assembly. Chapter No. 511.

HOV lane eligibility extension

SYNOPSIS: Extends the sunset on the provision allowing vehicles bearing clean special fuel license plates to use high occupancy vehicle lanes regardless of the number of their passengers from 2008 until July 2009.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+CHAP0511

WASHINGTON
2007 WA H.B. 2815
DATE-INTRO:    JANUARY 16, 2008;
LAST-ACTION:   MARCH 14, 2008; Chapter No. 2008-14

Plug in Infrastructure

SYNOPSIS: Relates to the state's participation in the development of a regional process to design a multisector, market based system for regulating greenhouse gas emissions, electricity generation or alternative fuel from landfill gas and anaerobic digester gas, greenhouse gas reporting requirements, permits for air contaminant sources, employer commute trip reduction programs, the green industries jobs training account, and projects to expand electrical transmission for recharging plug- in hybrid electric vehicles.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202008/2815-S2.SL.pdf