Overview
- AB 1421 passed the Assembly 43–18, directing the California Transportation Commission and State Transportation Agency to study mileage‑based road charges and deliver findings by the start of 2027.
- Study concepts cite rates between two and nine cents per mile, which at roughly 11,400 miles a year would translate to about $228 to $1,026 per driver annually.
- Supporters say the research responds to falling gas‑tax revenue and a large budget gap as more drivers shift to electric and fuel‑efficient vehicles.
- Republican lawmakers and activists object on cost, equity, and privacy grounds, highlighting potential burdens on rural and low‑income drivers, the risk of double payments, and concerns over trip‑tracking.
- Sponsor Lori Wilson says she will seek amendments to prevent double taxation, while GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton vowed to veto any road‑charge plan and coverage notes other states have piloted similar programs.