Lawmakers Continue Work on Transportation Bill

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The lone transportation funding proposal currently making its way throughout the Idaho Legislature has gotten a nearly $127 million makeover.

The Idaho Senate voted 22-13 Tuesday evening on HB 312 to include higher vehicle registration fees and increase Idaho's gas tax by 10 cents over the next four years. The original bill only created $20 million of new transportation funding, a far cry from solving Idaho's current $262 million annual transportation shortfall.

Republican Sen. Bert Brackett from Rogerson says the amendments include strict instructions that the new money only be used for road and bridge maintenance and replacement on a state and local level. However, because the bill was tweaked, it now needs to clear the House once more before heading to the governor's desk.