Three separate proposals are under consideration in the state Legislature that would allow Oklahoma voters to decide whether to raise or redistribute the state’s fuel tax to help fund road repairs.

Drivers in the Sooner State now pay 14 cents a gallon in tax on diesel fuel and 17 cents a gallon on gasoline. Two proposals pending in the Legislature could hike those taxes as high as 24 cents a gallon.

HB2632, co-sponsored by state Rep. Randall Erwin, D-Nashoba, and state Sen. Robert Milacek, R-Enid, would phase in an 8-cent-per-gallon boost on diesel and a 5-cent-per-gallon increase on gas over four years.

When fully implemented, the higher fuel taxes would generate $145 million a year, The Oklahoman reported. Revenue generated would all go to the state’s roads and bridges.

A bill introduced by state Rep. Bill Nations, D-Norman, would increase the diesel tax by 9 cents and the gas tax by 7 cents. The revenue generated would total about $183 million, according to a statement.

Nations’ measure – HB2559 – would fund a variety of transportation needs, including public transit and passenger rail. The bulk of the new money, however, would be placed in the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund.

The third measure by state Rep. Jim Newport, R-Ponca City, is an alternate plan to increasing fuel taxes. HJR1050 would give the highway system some of the motor vehicle tax money going to nonhighway uses.

Newport told the newspaper taking just some of that money and giving it to the highway system could produce enough a year to help the road and bridge program.

“If you sent this to a vote of the people, it would pass,” Newport said.

If the House and Senate pass all the proposals, they likely would go to a House-Senate conference committee where a final version of legislation would be written.

If given final approval by the Legislature and signed by the governor, the proposal would go before the public in the November 2004 general election.