STATEHOUSE (March 23, 2016) – Gov. Mike Pence today signed State Rep. Ed Soliday’s (R-Valparaiso) House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1001 into law providing funding for state and local roads.
HEA 1001 directs $186 million upfront to a local road and bridge matching grant account. The bill also redirects 1.5 cents of the 7 cents of sales tax on gasoline to the matching account as a source of ongoing funding and codifies the current equivalent of one cent already being dedicated to road funding. About $328 million would go toward state road and bridge preservation and maintenance over the next two years. In addition, about $505 million in local option income tax reserves currently held by the state will be returned to local units with $330 million dedicated to roads.
“This legislation, which is a product based on compromise and a lot of people working as a team, lays the foundation for a more long-term, sustainable road funding plan,” Soliday said. “I look forward to continuing conversations on funding solutions, which are comprehensive and responsible.”
Soliday said HEA 1001 creates the Funding Indiana’s Roads for a Stronger, Safer Tomorrow (FIRSST) Task Force, which is charged with developing a long-term road-funding proposal for Indiana. Soliday will serve on the FIRSST Task Force, which will be required to submit a plan prior to the next budget session in January 2017.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about HEA 1001.
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Rep. Soliday represents the city of Valparaiso, all of Center, Union and Washington townships and portions of Liberty and Jackson townships.
FOR OUR ROADS: State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) joins fellow members of the General Assembly at the Grand Park Administration Building in Westfield where Gov. Mike Pence ceremonially signed Soliday’s road funding bill into law. Soliday (Standing, behind Pence) said his bill lays the foundation for a more long-term, sustainable road funding plan.
