FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 19, 2026
Time Requested: 03:44 PM |
| Agency: |
Tax & Revenue Department, WV State |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 1104 |
Introduced |
HB4488 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Taxation |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
General Revenue Fund, State Road Fund
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund State Road Fund
Legislation creates:
Decreases Existing Revenue, Increases Existing Expenses
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The stated purpose of this bill is to eliminate the motor fuel excise tax and to replace any income from the tax with an equivalent increase in the state sales tax.
According to our interpretation, the proposed bill would eliminate the motor fuel excise tax, except for the tax on Aviation Gas, and increase the consumer sales tax rate with the tax attributable to the increased tax rate being dedicated to the State Road Fund. Under current code, the motor fuel excise tax is comprised of a flat rate tax of 20.5 cents per invoiced gallon and a variable rate tax which is 5 percent of the average wholesale price of each motor fuel as determined annually by the State Tax Commissioner.
The legislation reduces the motor fuel excise tax to zero for all fuels except for “airline fuel”. The legislation also increases the state consumer sales tax rate to seven and eight-tenths percent with collections attributable to the additional one and eight-tenths of a percent being dedicated to the State Road Fund. The provisions of the bill are effective July 1, 2026.
The provisions of this bill would shift the burden for maintaining state roads from the road user to the general consumer. Major road users such as the interstate trucking industry and tourists passing through on the interstate highways stand to benefit from the change. Lower user fees could generate increased travel on major state roads by the road users resulting in additional wear without increased funding to pay for more frequent maintenance. Most state residents and tourists who choose to spend time in the state beyond a short visit would pay higher total taxes. The greatest increase in tax burden would be on those state residents with below average travel on roads.
Per our interpretation, there would be a small decline in General Revenue collections due to consumer spending shifts in response to the higher sales tax rate. Based on current projections of motor fuel excise tax collections, the dedicated consumer sales tax would increase State Road Funding by up to $155 million in FY2027, and by up to $180 million in FY2028, and by increasing amounts in subsequent fiscal years.
Additional administrative costs to the State Tax Division would be $55,000 in FY2026.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2026
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2027
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
55,000 |
0 |
0 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
55,000 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
According to our interpretation, the proposed bill would eliminate the motor fuel excise tax, except for the tax on Aviation Gas, and increase the consumer sales tax rate with the tax attributable to the increased tax rate being dedicated to the State Road Fund. Under current code, the motor fuel excise tax is comprised of a flat rate tax of 20.5 cents per invoiced gallon and a variable rate tax which is 5 percent of the average wholesale price of each motor fuel as determined annually by the State Tax Commissioner.
The legislation reduces the motor fuel excise tax to zero for all fuels except for “airline fuel”. The legislation also increases the state consumer sales tax rate to seven and eight-tenths percent with collections attributable to the additional one and eight-tenths of a percent being dedicated to the State Road Fund. The provisions of the bill are effective July 1, 2026.
The provisions of this bill would shift the burden for maintaining state roads from the road user to the general consumer. Major road users such as the interstate trucking industry and tourists passing through on the interstate highways stand to benefit from the change. Lower user fees could generate increased travel on major state roads by the road users resulting in additional wear without increased funding to pay for more frequent maintenance. Most state residents and tourists who choose to spend time in the state beyond a short visit would pay higher total taxes. The greatest increase in tax burden would be on those state residents with below average travel on roads.
Per our interpretation, there would be a small decline in General Revenue collections due to consumer spending shifts in response to the higher sales tax rate. Based on current projections of motor fuel excise tax collections, the dedicated consumer sales tax would increase State Road Funding by up to $155 million in FY2027, and by up to $180 million in FY2028, and by increasing amounts in subsequent fiscal years.
Additional administrative costs to the State Tax Division would be $55,000 in FY2026.
Memorandum
The stated purpose of this bill is to eliminate the motor fuel excise tax and to replace any income from the tax with an equivalent increase in the state sales tax.
The bill fails to incorporate critical code sections.
This bill changes the sale tax rate without referencing §11-15-1, et seq., and specifically, this bill makes no changes to §11-15-18b or §11-15B-13a, which impose sales and use taxes on motor fuel. It is not clear whether the sales tax rate increase proposed in this bill applies to all consumer sales, or just the motor fuel sales taxed in §11-15-18b or §11-15A-13a.
The language of the bill confuses the act of repealing the Motor Fuel Excise Tax with reducing the rate to zero. The bill also references specific funds without providing a citation for those funds.
The bill refers only to the sales tax, with no mention of the use tax.
The term “airline fuel” is undefined and unclear. Section 11-14-2(2) currently defines “aircraft fuel,” fuel but use of the word “airline” could imply that the provision does not apply to aircraft fuel sold to customers other than airlines.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Mark Muchow
Email Address: RADfiscal@wv.gov