By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona voters will weigh in next year on a proposed constitutional amendment that would bar the state and local governments from taxing drivers based on how many miles they travel, as well as from placing limits on an individual’s vehicle mileage.
The proposed amendment, which will be placed on the November 2026 ballot, would make Arizona the first state in the nation to constitutionally prohibit vehicle miles traveled (VMT) taxes and related mileage restrictions.
VMT taxes—also referred to as mileage-based user fees—charge drivers a per-mile fee for use of public roads. While proponents argue the system offers a fairer alternative to traditional gas taxes, especially as electric vehicles become more common, opponents have raised concerns about privacy, government overreach, and potential impacts on rural and suburban drivers.
Currently, 24 states are testing or have launched VMT programs, according to the Tax Foundation. Most are voluntary and focus on electric or hybrid vehicles. Only Hawaii has a mandatory VMT program scheduled to take effect in stages, beginning with electric vehicles by 2028 and light-duty vehicles by 2033. Oregon was the first to implement a voluntary VMT system in 2015.
Supporters of Arizona’s constitutional amendment say it’s a preemptive strike to protect driver freedom and block what they see as a growing trend of government intrusion.
“As we have seen in other states, governments left to their own devices will succumb to radical attempts to track, tax, or limit their citizens’ transportation miles,” said Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, which has long opposed VMTs. “The Arizona Free Enterprise Club has been fighting for the Freedom to Move Act since 2023,” Mussi added. “We are thrilled that our Republican-majority legislature chose to give voters the ability to protect their way of life by preserving our freedom to travel by personal vehicle in our state.”
SCR 1004 marks the legislature’s second attempt to advance such a measure. A similar proposal—House Concurrent Resolution 2018—passed the House in 2024 but failed in the Senate in a 15–15 tie. Under Arizona law, constitutional amendments approved by the legislature do not require the governor’s signature to go to the ballot.
SCR 1004 is the first measure officially certified for the 2026 ballot. Lawmakers are still considering 20 other proposals—eight constitutional amendments and 12 referred statutes—that could also appear before voters next year. If voters approve SCR 1004, Arizona would become the first state to embed a ban on VMT taxes and mileage limits into its constitution—setting a potentially influential precedent in the national transportation policy debate.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
