Bill > S61

This bill addresses toll collection on Interstate 95 in North Carolina by establishing two key provisions: first, it completely prohibits the North Carolina Turnpike Authority from collecting tolls on Interstate 95 for a ten-year period, and second, it requires that any future attempts to implement tolls on this highway must receive prior approval from the General Assembly. The bill modifies existing state law (G.S. 136-89.198) to create an explicit exception for Interstate 95, initially banning tolls outright and then transitioning to a requirement for legislative approval after July 1, 2035. This change aims to provide greater legislative oversight and public input on potential future toll implementations for this major interstate highway. The bill maintains existing provisions about toll revenue usage, which stipulates that toll revenues can only be used for repairing and maintaining the specific interstate highway where the tolls are collected, and cannot be used for adjacent or connected state roads. The bill also preserves a severability clause, meaning that if any part of the law is found invalid, the rest of the law can still be enforced.