5/15/09-A bill died in the Senate Appropriations Committee that sought to divert proceeds from the Indiana Toll Road for local projects. The House previously approved it.
Sponsored by Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, HB1656 called for routing $400 million to counties with cities and towns getting another $400 million. The local projects would have been required to be ready to begin by January 2011.
Another $200 million would have been sent to the Indiana Department of Transportation with the intention of trying to leverage matching federal highway dollars.
According to the fiscal impact statement of the bill, as of July 1, 2008, there was about $2.4 billion remaining in the Major Moves account – the fund holding the Toll Road lease dollars. If Austin’s bill is signed into law, the account could drop to around $1.4 billion.
Included in the bill was a provision that would have given preference to companies that have at least 80 percent of their workforce filled by residents in the state.

2/4/09-The House Ways and Means Committee voted 15-8 along party lines to advance a bill to the full House that would divert proceeds from the Indiana Toll Road for local projects.
Sponsored by Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, HB1656 would route $400 million to counties with cities and towns getting another $400 million. The local projects must be ready to begin by January 2011.
Another $200 million would be sent to the Indiana Department of Transportation with the intention of trying to leverage matching federal highway dollars.
According to the fiscal impact statement of the bill, as of July 1, 2008, there was about $2.4 billion remaining in the Major Moves account – the fund holding the Toll Road lease dollars. If Austin’s bill is signed into law, the account could drop to around $1.4 billion.
Included in the bill is a provision that would give preference to companies that have at least 80 percent of their workforce filled by residents in the state.
For House bill status, call 317-232-9856.