HELENA — The Montana House has passed a fuel tax increase meant to help pay for road and bridge projects.
The House passed the bill 54-46 in a final vote Wednesday. The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The bill would raise the state’s tax on gas by 8 cents a gallon and on diesel by 7 ¼ cents a gallon.
It would be the first fuel tax hike in 24 years.
Republican legislative leaders worked up to the last minute to try to change enough votes to defeat the measure.
They succeeded in changing only two votes compared to the initial vote taken last Thursday.