Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Friday passed House Bill 73, sponsored by the House Transportation Committee. HB 73 amends a law passed during the 20th Alaska Legislature which raised registration fees for out-of-state trucks and eliminated the requirement for annual registration of commercial trailers.

"This was, and is, a good law but, unfortunately, some municipalities lost tax revenues by eliminating trailer registrations," said Representative Beverly Masek (R-Willow), Chair of the House Transportation Committee. "Since the law was passed, the trucking industry, municipalities, and the Division of Motor Vehicles have met several times and have reached certain agreements."

HB 73 meets the agreements and makes the following changes:

• makes permanent the new registration fees for commercial vehicles;
• raises the municipal tax schedule $75 per year on trucks over 12,000 pounds to restore lost revenue to affected municipalities; and
• tightens "situs" language so that trucks are registered for where they are normally used.

HB 73 passed on a 33-2 vote and now moves to the Senate.