Appropriations panel advances amendment 02006 after changes to oil‑revenue distributions, Highway 85 review and DOT operations funding

The House Appropriations - Government Operations Division voted to attach amendment 02006 with agreed changes after members debated how oil‑related transportation dollars are distributed, the timing of an environmental study for Highway 85, and funding for Department of Transportation operations including state aircraft and the statewide siren program.

The committee, chaired by Chairman Munson, heard detailed instruction from staff member Ron Henke on multiple technical edits in the bill, including language that affects a flexible transportation fund and a bridge carve‑out. "That goes to everybody," Henke said, describing an earlier edit that removed a "non oil" limitation and would make a 43 percent carve‑out available to all counties, cities and townships. Henke told the committee that the 13.5 percent bridge carve‑out still included a "non oil" limitation, and he recommended flipping the two provisions if that matched the committee's intent.

Why it matters: The changes would shift which local governments can use limited, oil‑related transportation dollars and alter eligibility for bridge funding, affecting distributions to counties and municipalities across the state.

Key changes and discussion

- Flexible transportation fund and bridge carve‑out: Henke flagged that the amendment’s language as drafted would make the 43 percent flexible fund share go to every county, city and township; the 13.5 percent bridge carve‑out still…