The Transportation Investment Advocacy Center’s second 2015 report on state transportation legislation is now available.

21 states are currently considering transportation funding legislation, with more expected as the year progresses. TIAC staff have tracked 48 transportation funding bills introduced in 2015, with over 70 bills in total pending legislative action. Eleven states— Ga., Iowa, Mich., Minn., Mont., N.J., N.M., S.C., S.D., Texas, and Utah— are currently considering legislation to increase their gas tax or sales tax on gasoline, with more anticipated in the 2015 legislative session. Additionally, Michigan voters will decide on a ballot measure in May that would result in a transportation funding increase. Three states— Conn., N.H., and Texas— are currently considering legislation to protect their transportation funds. Two states with variable-rate gas taxes— Ky. and N.C.— are considering legislation to instate a “floor” on the tax in order to prevent it from collecting below a minimum amount.

Since our last report:

  • Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) included a $1.3 billion bond for transportation in his 2015-2017 budget proposal released Feb. 3, 2015.
  • Georgia Republican House leaders introduced the Transportation Funding Act of 2015 at the end of January.
  • South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) proposed increases in state vehicle and motor fuel taxes in order to generate $50.5 million annually for transportation funding.
  • A Texas proposal would dedicate a portion of the vehicle sales tax to the State Highway Fund.
  • Iowa lawmakers have submitted companion bills in the House and Senate to increase the state gas tax by 10 cents-per-gallon.
  • The California Assembly Speaker has proposed a “road usage charge”, which would result in an additional $2 billion annually for the state’s roads and bridges.
  • A Washington legislator introduced a bill to dedicate some revenue from a motor vehicle sales tax to transportation purposes.
  • A Utah proposal is being considered to increase the state gas tax by 10 cents-per-gallon and diesel by 5 cents-per-gallon, in order to fund maintenance of roads and bridges.
  • North Carolinian lawmakers have proposed moving up the date of a scheduled state gas tax decrease, then putting a floor in place on the variable-rate component of the gas tax. The bill passed the Senate and is now in the House.
  • Several legislators have submitted proposals in South Carolina, including a bill to halt new road construction and restructure the state gas tax.
  • The Connecticut legislature is considering several bills to protect the state’s transportation fund from diversions, while Republican leaders in the legislature have proposed a transportation funding plan to raise at least $1 billion per year.

To read the full report of 2015 proposed transportation funding initiatives, visit February 2015 State Transportation Funding Initiatives Report.

Have we missed any transportation funding bills or states initiating legislative action? Let us know in the comments!