MN HF3246

Center for Transportation Studies must conduct research on transportation funding and hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles using fiscal year 2015-2016 funds, with a report due November 1, 2015.

Report must include projections of revenue impacts from reduced petroleum use due to electric vehicles, review of electric grid and charging infrastructure, analysis of options to recapture foregone transportation revenue, and legal analysis of taxing electricity as motor fuel.

Center must research state general sales tax collections from transportation projects for fiscal years 2014-2015, calculating actual or estimated annual sales tax receipts by Department of Transportation, counties, cities, and towns, with report due January 15, 2016.

Commissioner of Transportation may withhold and transfer funds from existing appropriations to cover research costs incurred by Department of Transportation, Department of Revenue, or Department of Management and Budget as a onetime appropriation for fiscal year 2015.