Transportation (Bridges)

SB 1349 establishes the "Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund" to provide dedicated funding for Oklahoma's road and bridge infrastructure. It mandates specific annual funding amounts starting at $80 million for fiscal year 2021, increasing to $1 billion annually by 2034, with the first $80 million allocated each year for debt service on transportation bonds before other projects. The fund must be used by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for constructing, maintaining, and operating state roads, bridges, highways, and matching federal transportation funds. The bill also includes a mechanism to reduce fund allocations if the state faces a General Revenue Fund shortfall, and it declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon passage.

SB 173 redirects excess vehicle tax revenue that would otherwise go to Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund into a new Municipal Improvements for Roads and Bridges Fund. Starting in 2019, any funds exceeding the 2015 apportionment level for transportation will now fund local road and bridge projects instead. This directly affects Oklahoma cities and counties seeking to improve their infrastructure through this dedicated funding source. The bill modifies existing vehicle fee distribution rules without creating new taxes, using money that would have otherwise been added to the General Revenue Fund.

SB 1358 creates the Preserving and Advancing City and Town Transportation Fund, which will receive 0.5% of Oklahoma's sales tax revenue starting in fiscal year 2028. This fund directly supports cities and towns by providing dedicated funding for local transportation infrastructure projects like road and bridge maintenance. The bill amends existing sales tax apportionment rules to redirect this specific percentage of revenue to the new fund, replacing previous allocations for other state purposes. The legislation requires the Department of Transportation to confirm fund allocations before disbursement, ensuring funds are used for eligible city and town transportation needs.

HB 1384 requires Oklahoma's Department of Transportation (DOT) to mandate post-installation inspections for storm pipes that fail a structural test before installation. Contractors must pay for these inspections and any necessary fixes - like replacing or reinforcing pipes - to meet DOT standards. Inspections must verify structural integrity, proper installation, joint alignment, and absence of defects like cracks. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, and directs the DOT to create implementing rules.

HB 2758 creates the "Preserving and Advancing County Transportation Fund" (PACT Fund) to allocate oil and gas tax revenues directly to Oklahoma counties for road and bridge maintenance. The fund prioritizes counties with the lowest current road maintenance funding, directing two-thirds of its money to help all counties reach a $4,000 per road mile target for highway upkeep. The remaining one-third is split equally between funding road miles based on statewide totals and allocating funds for county bridges using the most recent ODOT bridge inventory data. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma counties by providing a dedicated, ongoing source of funding for their local road and bridge systems.