Now that Maryland has joined Wyoming in increasing its gas tax, who's next? Gas tax legislation in New Hampshire and Vermont have advanced to their Senates where going is rough, and a new, "two-cent a year for a decade" bill is proposed for Nevada.
Maryland was the latest addition after the state Senate passed the bill on March 29 that indexes the existing 23.5-cent tax, last raised over two decades ago, to the Consumer Price Index and adds a phased, 3% sales tax on the wholesale price of fuel, similar to what was done in neighboring Virginia, write John Wagner and Aaron C. Davis. (However, Virginia eliminated its 17.5-cent excise tax).
In Vermont, the gas tax package, which has gather much public opposition, has cleared the House and is being debated in the Senate, writes Peter Hirschfeld of the Barre Montpelier Times Argus. While the excise tax is 19-cents, "in 2009 the legislature added a two percent sales tax that has now grown from 3.5 to 6.7 cents a gallon,” according to Jim Harrison of the Vermont Grocers Association who is leading a petition effort to kill the tax increase.
The revenue package approved by the House would increase gas taxes by a projected 6.7 cents in 2013 and 7.8 cents next year
Much debate in the Senate is centered on shifting some of the increase to diesel, which has aroused the trucking industry.
New Hampshire faces a high hurdle in increasing their gas tax. Ben Leubsdorf of the Concord-Montor writes that the House passed the 12-cent gas tax increase, phased in over three years. The current 18-cent gas tax was last increased in 1991. However, according to "Sen. Chuck Morse, a Salem Republican and chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, ...it 'will be dead on arrival' in the upper chamber."
In Nevada, the AP reports that a bill has been introduced to increase gas taxes by 2-cents annually over the next decade. The funding measure follows the release of a report (PDF) by the non-profit, transportation industry group TRIP that highlights the shortfall of transportation revenue in the state.
FULL STORY: Washington Post: Maryland Senate approves gas tax increase; gun-control bill survives House panel’s fight

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie