Sec. 22. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the department may, after issuing an order and receiving the governor’s approval, determine that a state highway should become a tollway. After the order becomes effective, the department shall maintain and operate the tollway and levy and collect tolls as provided in IC 8-15-3 or enter into a public-private agreement with an operator with respect to the tollway under IC 8-15.7. Before issuing an order under this section, the department shall submit to the governor a plan to bring the tollway to the current design standards of the department for new state highways within a specified period. The specified period may not exceed five (5) years.

     (b) Before the governor, the department, or an operator may carry out any of the following activities under this section, the general assembly must enact a statute authorizing that activity:

(1) Determine that a highway that is in existence or under construction on July 1, 2011, should become a tollway.

(2) Impose tolls on motor vehicles for use of Interstate Highway 69.

     (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), during the period beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2031, the general assembly is not required to enact a statute authorizing the governor, the department, or an operator to determine that all or part of the following projects should become a tollway:

(1) A project on which construction begins after June 30, 2011, not including any part of Interstate Highway 69 other than a part described in subdivision (3).

(2) The addition of toll lanes, including high occupancy toll lanes, to a highway, roadway, or other facility in existence on July 1, 2011, if the number of nontolled lanes on the highway, roadway, or facility as of July 1, 2011, does not decrease due to the addition of the toll lanes.

(3) A project that is located within a metropolitan planning area (as defined by 23 U.S.C. § 134) and that connects the state of Indiana with the commonwealth of Kentucky.

As added by P.L.18-1990, SEC.216. Amended by P.L.47-2006, SEC.41; P.L.85-2010, SEC.24; P.L.163-2011, SEC.17; P.L.13-2013, SEC.30; P.L.94-2015, SEC.5; P.L.165-2021, SEC.133; P.L.12-2022, SEC.7; P.L.19-2023, SEC.4.