FUNDS/FUNDING: Establishes the Transportation Backlog Fund to be used to fund certain transportation projects (OR -$20,000,000 GF RV See Note)

This bill creates a new Transportation Backlog Fund to address the imbalance where certain Louisiana parishes contribute more severance tax revenue to the state than they receive in benefits. The fund will be established with an initial $20 million transfer from the state general treasury and will earn interest on its investments. Money from the fund can only be used for transportation projects located entirely within parishes that have received the maximum constitutional severance tax allocation for natural resources, and projects must be included in specific state or federal priority programs. All fund disbursements require approval from the Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works before being allocated to specific projects.