The Wyoming Department of Transportation is pressing state lawmakers to authorize diverting funds for highway projects.

HB22 would redirect $14 million a year in existing federal mineral royalties and severance tax revenue to a new multilane highway fund.

WYDOT said the bill would merely reverse the effects of de-earmarking legislation that took effect in 2001, but only to the extent the legislation affected the agency, the Casper Star-Tribune reported.

Instead of simply giving the money to the department, HB22 would put the money into a fund specifically for the highway-widening project.