Excise Tax Equalization Law Goes To President

With the negotiations surrounding an extension of the Highway Bill coming to a close, NPGA reports that one of its legislative priorities is included in the three month extension-excise tax equalization. After being included in the House-passed five month extension on July 15, some uncertainty remained as to whether this provision would be included in the legislation that ultimately becomes law. That uncertainty ended when Congress passed the extension bill, H.R. 3236, with the provision intact.

Excise tax equalization alters the calculation for the excise tax levied against propane used as an auto fuel to be based on an energy content rather than the current volumetric calculation. Due to the lower energy content of propane compared to gasoline, this will result in lower excise taxes being levied on propane used in auto fuel applications.

H.R. 3236 is headed to the President for his signature before the Highway Trust Fund expires on Friday. NPGA expressed its appreciation to the leadership of many Senators and Representatives who worked to advance excise tax equalization and were instrumental in its ultimate inclusion in the law. Of note were Senators Burr (R-NC), Bennett (D-CO), and Hatch (R-UT) and Representatives Kelly (R-PA), Kind (D-WI), Young (R-IN), and Ryan (R-WI). The NPGA expressed its thanks to the hard work of its members, whose successful grassroots effort on this initiative helped to push it across the finish line.