AB 483

This bill provides that a municipal or county vehicle registration fee, commonly known as a wheel tax, may be imposed only if approved by a majority of electors voting in a referendum at a regularly scheduled election.

Under current law, the governing body of a municipality or county may enact an ordinance imposing an annual flat municipal or county registration fee on all motor vehicles registered in this state that are customarily kept in the municipality or county. The fees collected are required to be used only for transportation-related purposes.

Under the bill, a municipality or county that proposes to impose a registration fee is required to hold a referendum at a regularly scheduled election. The registration fee may be imposed only if approved by a majority of the electors who vote in the referendum. Registration fees imposed prior to the date on which the bill becomes law must be approved by a majority of electors voting in a referendum at a regularly scheduled election occurring not later than the first day of the 18th month beginning after the date on which the bill becomes law.