SB185 Summary

• Amends Section 40-17-224 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to allow counties to use four-cent excise tax proceeds on gasoline and lubricating oil for vegetation management on county road rights-of-way.

• Defines vegetation management as actions to maintain road rights-of-way for public safety and road infrastructure longevity, including herbicide use, bush hogging, and tree and limb removal.

• Permits counties to use tax proceeds for vegetation management in addition to existing authorized uses of resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and bridge replacement of paved county roads.

• Maintains existing restrictions that county funds cannot be commingled with other county funds, cannot be used for equipment purchases, and cannot be used for new construction unless 90 percent of the county's paved road system achieves an 85 percent grade rating.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.