South Dakota lawmakers have approved a measure doubling the annual registration fee for electric passenger vehicles. House Bill 1227 raises the fee from $50 to $100, with the Senate passing it 24–10 — the exact two‑thirds majority required. The bill now goes to Gov. Larry Rhoden.
Sen. Steve Kolbeck of Brandon, the bill’s Senate sponsor, said the fee was originally created because electric vehicles don’t pay the state’s 28‑cent‑per‑gallon fuel tax. He noted that based on mileage and tax calculations, the fee should be about $134, but lawmakers settled on $100 to avoid opposition.
If signed, the higher fee will apply annually to EV owners using South Dakota roads.
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