Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) proposed an increase in the state motor fuel tax during his Jan. 26 State-of-the-State address. Read More
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A plan to increase the Alaskan state gas tax received its first legislative hearing Jan. 26. The state is currently facing a deficit of $3.5 billion to $4 billion per year. Alaska does not have a dedicated transportation fund, and instead deposits motor fuel taxes into the general fund. Read More
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Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (DFL) introduced a $1.4 billion bonding bill on Jan. 15 to finance statewide infrastructure projects. The plan includes funding for critical bridge repairs, airport construction, port improvements, local transportation development grants, and rail and highway safety upgrades. Read More
Dayton and legislative leaders have also expressed support for Minnesota Sen. Scott Dibble’s (D- Minneapolis) plan to put a transportation funding increase before voters in November’s general election. Read More
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South Carolina state senators unveiled a road funding proposal Jan. 26 to gradually increase the state gas tax by 12 cents-per-gallon and increase fees on licenses, registration, alternative fuel and electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles. As part of a compromise, the plan would include several tax relief incentives. Read More
Meanwhile, at the annual meeting for the S.C. Alliance to Fix Our Roads on Jan. 25, South Carolina interim roads chief Christy Hall stated that $1.2 billion per year is needed to update the current transportation infrastructure to near-perfect condition. This amount excludes mass transit and new road construction. Read More
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Alabama lawmakers met Jan. 26 to discuss the possibility of introducing legislation to increase the state gas tax this legislative session. Rep. Mac McCutcheon (R- District 25) announced that legislation was currently being developed. Read More
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While Colorado lawmakers agree on the need to increase state transportation funding, a solution they can agree on remains elusive. Read More
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Oregon State Rep. John Davis (R-Wilsonville) announced his plan on Jan. 22 to introduce legislation that will increase transportation funding, including raising the state gas tax, when the state legislature convenes for a short session Feb. 1. After a plan to raise new revenue broke down during the 2015 legislative session, Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Kate Brown (D) announced they would not consider a transportation funding increase until 2017. Read More
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Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) confirmed on Jan. 21 that he will not propose an increase in motor fuel taxes during the 2016 legislative session. Read More
Arkansas Department of Transportation Director Scott Bennett told Arkansas Highway Commission members at a Dec. 2 meeting that the state would need approximately $50 million per year in additional funding to match the $250 million increase in federal funds allocated by the FAST Act for highway improvements.
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The South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office determined that just under a third of the state’s motor fuel tax revenue is paid by out-of-state drivers. Read More
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Miss our article on how the falling prices for oil and gas are leading to transportation funding shortfalls in two states? Read it here.