House Bill No. by Representative Braud aims to reform operations within the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and the Highway Priority Program. The bill amends several sections of the law to clarify that the annual submissions of the highway priority program must include a detailed list of changes to the completed previous year's program, along with justifications for those changes. It also specifies that at least 90% of projects should progress as outlined in the completed previous year's program. Additionally, the bill mandates that any projects not included in the final construction program for the upcoming fiscal year must be reported to the House and Senate transportation committees by October 1st of the following year. Furthermore, the bill increases the contract limit for construction, maintenance, or improvement projects from $1 million to $3 million. This change is intended to enhance the DOTD's ability to manage larger projects effectively. The bill also clarifies that the annual report on the status of projects pertains to the current Highway Priority Program, ensuring that the legislature is kept informed about ongoing initiatives. Overall, these amendments are designed to improve transparency and efficiency within the DOTD and its project management processes.

Statutes affected:
HB1000 Original: 48:1(F), 48:231(A)(5), 48:251(B)