Transportation committee asks TASER for wide-ranging study of road funding; report due Sept. 30, 2026

The Transportation and Safety Committee on an 9-0 roll call voted to send Senate Bill 703, as amended, to the calendar after rewriting the measure to request a TASER study of Tennesseetransportation funding and revenue options.

The amendment directs TASER to examine existing and potential revenue sources for roads and bridges, including rental-car fees, transportation-network-company fees, retail delivery fees, commercial vehicle road-usage charges, highway impact fees on heavy trucks, and dedicated sales-tax funds on vehicle and tire sales. The amendment sets a report date of Sept. 30, 2026.

Chairwoman Massey said the study is aimed at rebuilding a revenue system she described as "not working," noting changes in vehicle fuel economy and rising construction costs. "Every penny of TDOT's budget comes from the gas tax," Chairwoman Massey said during debate, arguing the tax base is eroding as vehicles become more fuel-efficient and travel volumes increase.

Committee members pressed for detail on TASER's capacity and timeline. Cliff Lippert, executive director of TASER, told the committee the office usually handles five to eight studies at a time and has a research staff that, when fully staffed, numbers 14 researchers. "When sponsors are willing to work with us on the requested due date for the report, that gives us a lot of flexibility," Lippert said. He also described temporary staffing constraints and said TASER and committee leadership had coordinated on the Sept. 30, 2026, deadline.

Supporters said the requested study should inventory statewide unmet needs and offer options for a long-term, multi-source revenue structure. The sponsor told the committee there are roughly $38 billion in unidentified road expansion needs statewide and said TDOT's current funding model does not account for inflation or the changing vehicle fleet mix. The amendment asks TASER to consider a broad package of potential revenue streams rather than a single new tax.

Senators on the committee signed on as cosponsors during the hearing; the amendment carried and the bill passed by voice and later on a roll call vote, 9-0.

The committee's action sends the amended bill to the full Senate calendar and requires TASER to produce the study by the specified date. The study's findings could shape future legislation on fee structures or dedicated revenue streams for TDOT and county road work.