If you are just tuning in, here is a full rundown of what AB 1421 is, the history behind the "road charge" concept (which is often, misleadingly, referred to as the "California mileage tax"), and the financial reality driving the proposal.

California’s social media political feeds have been flooded this week with claims that lawmakers are “imposing a new mileage tax.” But despite viral panic, no such tax exists, and no one is...

The bill would not itself enact the mileage tax, but would launch research into how much to charge drivers per mile and how to collect that money.

While AB 1421 does not trigger immediate imposition of the tax at this time, the bill directs the state government to advance implementation of a mileage tax program and to return to the legislature with recommendations on how much tax to charge and how to collect it.

The proposed mileage tax would likely trigger existing state labor laws, requiring employers to reimburse employees for the tax as a necessary business expense.

The most talked-about development in California mileage legislation is the transition toward a Road Usage Charge (RUC). Historically, California has relied on gas taxes to fund road repairs.

If you’ve been seeing headlines or social media posts claiming that California has just passed a “mileage tax,” then it’s really important to level-set right off the bat and clarify that no, California has not enacted a mileage tax.

The California Mileage Tax proposal would require tracking every driver’s mileage and charging them six to nine cents per mile they drive! That is the equivalent of a spike in the gas tax of between 87 cents and 1.15 per gallon of gas!

A new pilot program aims to charge drivers for using the roads based on how much they actually drive - removing California's gas tax and replace it with a mileage tax instead.

What’s being tested today through Caltrans and the State Transportation Agency is the blueprint for total mileage monitoring tied to personal identity. California is advancing a plan to replace the state gas tax with a mileage-based road charge that taxes drivers by distance traveled.