HB 23-1101 Summary

• Expands the Ozone Season Transit Grant Program by allowing transit agencies to define their own ozone seasons beyond June 1-August 31 if ozone-causing traffic peaks at different times, improving flexibility for regional conditions.

• Increases grant funding caps and allows carryover of unspent grants: Transit associations can receive up to $3 million annually (with rollover provisions) and the regional transportation district up to $11 million annually.

• Permits grant money to cover new marketing and measurement costs including rider surveys, awareness campaigns, and frequency increases for existing free services.

• Requires at least one voting representative from transit agencies on each transportation planning organization's board effective September 1, 2023, increasing transit agency participation in regional transportation planning.

• Raises the maximum sales/use tax rate for regional transportation authorities from 1 percent to 2 percent and extends mill levy authority beyond its January 1, 2029 sunset date.

• Mandates a statewide transportation planning study due November 30, 2023, to review planning region boundaries, committee membership, and consistency of planning processes across regions.