Indiana House and Senate members are working to resolve differences on a plan to boost roads funding for the state’s aging infrastructure.
State Sen. Eric Bassler (R-Washington) has been appointed by Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) to serve as a Senate advisor on the Conference Committee for House Bill 1002 which is the road funding bill. Conference Committees are made up of members of the House and the Senate. They work to craft a final version of the bill, which both the House and Senate must approve. If both chambers pass the final bill, it will move to the governor for consideration.
Lawmakers heard testimony Monday but negotiations will continue. The session is expected to end in two weeks.
Bill sponsor Sen. Luke Kenley says the final package will involve “quite a mix” of elements. The Noblesville Republican says some of the changes in the Senate were made to test people’s appetite for those proposals.
Much discussion has centered on tolling, the money dedicated toward local roads and whether to send revenue from the gasoline sales tax entirely to roads. Other proposed elements include a 10-cent gasoline tax increase and a diesel tax increase.
Lawmakers estimate that a more than $1 billion increase in yearly infrastructure spending is needed.