Approved

  • Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (R) on April 11 permitted legislation to become law that will provide $300 million in Grant Anticipation Revenue (GARVEE) bonds and reroute 1 percent of the state’s sales tax proceeds to transportation projects. The bill was approved by Idaho lawmakers on March 28.

Legislation Progress

  • The West Virginia legislature on April 8 sent a measure to the ballot asking voters to approve $1.6 billion in bonds for the improvement and construction of state roads. Gov. Jim Justice (D) will call for a special election to be held before the end of 2017. The legislature also approved a bill to increase the amount of Federal Grant Anticipation Notes (GARVEE) that the Division of Highways can apply for from $200 million to $500 million.
  • An amended bill to increase the Montana state gas tax passed the Senate 28-22 on April 13. The rate increase was lowered from 8 cents-per-gallon to 6 cents-per-gallon, achieved gradually by 2023. The bill was initially passed by the House 54-46 at the end of March, and will now go back to the chamber so representatives can consider the amendment.
  • The Colorado Senate Transportation Committee passed amended legislation to increase the state sales tax by 0.5 percent to fund transportation projects. The House had passed the same bill at the end of March with a higher sales tax increase of 0.62 percent. An additional bill to authorize $1.2 billion in road bonds was also approved by the committee.
  • The Tennessee IMPROVE Act— which would increase state motor fuel taxes, create a new electric vehicle fee, and raise registration fees, among other components— received finance committee approvals in the House on April 11 and the Senate on April 12. The bill is scheduled to be heard by the full House on April 19.
  • An Alabama bill to increase the state motor fuel tax gradually by 6 cents-per-gallon received its first approval from the House Committee on Transportation.