Amends existing law to increase moneys distributed to the Local Bridge Inspection Account.

Idaho Code Section 63-2412 dedicates $100,000 annually from the state gas tax for a local bridge inspection account. This program ensures safety for users of Idaho's transportation system, and hasn't been adjusted in more than twenty years for inflation and increased federal match requirements. The local bridge inspection account (§40-703) provides the required 7.34% match for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding utilized to conduct local jurisdiction bridge inspections, and is strictly dedicated only for this use. The current estimated cost to inspect local bridges is $2M annually. Required match for $2M is approximately $150,000. Recently, unused funds from previous years have been carried over to cover the gap in matching funds; however, the balance in the local bridge inspection account is nearly exhausted. Annual funding to this account is fixed in statute, while the costs of local bridge inspection grow. This proposal increases funding for the local bridge inspection account to $175,000 to ensure match requirements and cost increases can be met, so that bridges in Idaho's 288 local jurisdictions are properly inspected for safety.