SB293 Summary

• Amends Section 40-17-362 to clarify that county proceeds from the four-cent excise tax on gasoline and lubricating oil may be used for vegetation management on county road rights-of-way, in addition to resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and bridge replacement.

• Defines "vegetation management" as actions to maintain road rights-of-way through herbicides, bush hogging, and tree and limb removal to benefit public safety and road infrastructure longevity.

• Restricts county use of these funds to exclude new construction unless 90 percent of the county's paved road system achieves an 85 percent grade rating per the State Department of Transportation's annual maintenance report.

• Prohibits counties from commingling these tax proceeds with other county funds or gasoline tax revenues and requires them to be kept in a special fund for designated purposes only.

• Repeals Section 40-17-224 as obsolete and makes the act effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval.