(a) The Department of Transportation shall not expend any state funds for any studies, plans, programs, materials or activities regarding a mileage-based user fee on motor vehicles operated on state highways, unless such expenditure is approved by the General Assembly in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

(b) The department shall file a request for approval of the proposed expenditure with the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The General Assembly may approve the proposed expenditure by a majority vote of each house or may reject the proposed expenditure by a majority vote of either house. If the General Assembly is in session, it shall vote to approve or reject the proposed expenditure not later than thirty days after the department files the request for approval with the clerks. If the General Assembly is not in session when the request for approval is filed, it shall be submitted to the General Assembly not later than ten days after the first day of the next regular session or special session called for such purpose. The proposed expenditure shall be deemed rejected if the General Assembly fails to vote to approve or reject such proposed expenditure not later than thirty days after the department files the request for approval with the clerks. Such thirty-day period shall not begin or expire unless the General Assembly is in regular session. For the purposes of this subsection, any request for approval of a proposed expenditure filed with the clerks within thirty days before the commencement of a regular session of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be filed on the first day of such session.