1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

Dear Governor Braun and Members of the Indiana General Assembly: I am writing to ask a simple question regarding Indiana’s suspension of gasoline taxes during the current energy emergency: **Why are Indiana owners of electric and hybrid vehicles not being provided comparable relief from the state’s Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Supplemental Registration Fees?** Governor Braun has taken action to suspend Indiana gasoline taxes in response to increased fuel prices and energy-market disruptions associated with international conflicts and other energy-supply concerns. I appreciate the goal of providing financial relief to Hoosier motorists. However, that relief raises an important question of fairness. Indiana imposes additional annual registration fees on electric and hybrid vehicles specifically because these vehicles consume less—or no—gasoline and therefore contribute less through gasoline taxes. In other words, the supplemental EV and hybrid fees effectively serve as an alternative mechanism for collecting road-funding revenue from drivers who purchase less gasoline. If Indiana temporarily suspends gasoline taxes to provide financial relief to motorists, why does Indiana continue collecting the full supplemental fee from electric and hybrid vehicle owners? An Indiana resident driving a gasoline-powered vehicle benefits from the tax suspension every time he or she purchases fuel during the suspension period. An Indiana resident who chose an electric vehicle receives none of that relief, while still being required to pay the supplemental annual fee intended to compensate for gasoline taxes the driver does not pay. Hybrid owners similarly pay an additional registration fee despite receiving less benefit from a gasoline-tax suspension because they generally purchase less gasoline. This appears inconsistent with the stated purpose of providing relief to Indiana motorists. I respectfully ask Governor Braun and the General Assembly to address the following questions: 1. **Why were the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Supplemental Registration Fees not included when Indiana began providing tax relief to gasoline-powered motorists?** 2. **Does the Governor currently have statutory authority to suspend or reduce these registration fees during an energy emergency?** If not, would legislation from the General Assembly be required? 3. **Will the General Assembly consider temporarily reducing, suspending, or prorating the EV and hybrid supplemental fees for the same period that gasoline taxes are suspended?** 4. **If these fees cannot legally be suspended, will you support legislation providing an equivalent registration credit to electric and hybrid vehicle owners?** 5. **How does the State justify collecting 100% of an alternative road-use fee from EV and hybrid owners while temporarily foregoing the gasoline-tax contribution from other motorists?** This is not an argument that electric vehicles should make no contribution toward Indiana's roads. All motorists use our transportation infrastructure, and there is a legitimate policy discussion to be had about how every type of vehicle should contribute fairly toward maintaining it. Rather, this is a question of **equal treatment during a temporary tax-relief policy**. If the State determines that extraordinary energy circumstances justify temporarily reducing the road-funding burden on Hoosiers who drive gasoline-powered vehicles, comparable consideration should be given to Hoosiers who drive electric and hybrid vehicles. At minimum, I believe Indiana taxpayers deserve an explanation of why one group of motorists receives temporary relief from its road-funding mechanism while another group continues paying its alternative road-funding fee in full. I respectfully request a written response explaining the administration's and your office's position on this issue and whether you would support legislation providing equitable relief to electric and hybrid vehicle owners for the duration of Indiana's gasoline-tax suspension. Thank you for your time and your service to the State of Indiana. I look forward to your response. **Respectfully,**