Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer (R) signed into law legislation to create the state’s “Joint Legislative Transportation Vision Task Force” to evaluate the current system’s condition and funding of the state’s transportation system. The task force will make recommendations on the current and future transportation system needs and the structure of the highway fund, with any reports due to the legislature on or before Jan. 31.
Missouri lawmakers placed a measure on the November 2018 ballot that, if approved by voters, will gradually increase the state gas tax by 10 cents-per-gallon. The measure could generate $293 million annually for the Highway Patrol, and an additional $128 million for local roads.
The Louisiana House on May 18 agreed to place a measure on the November 2018 ballot that could remove all funding for the state police that comes from the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF). In the past five fiscals years, $174.5 million was appropriated from the TTF for state police funding.
A Minnesota bill that would provide $400 million in bonds for the state’s Corridors of Commerce highway program and $79 million in bonds for local roads has been sent to the desk of Gov. Mark Dayton (D) for approval. The governor has two weeks to review the measure.
A different measure that would have asked voters to dedicate a portion of the existing state sales tax for transportation funding died in the Minnesota legislature on May 18.
Read details about these bills and more on TIAC’s “State Transportation Funding Legislation” page.