GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 61
Short Title: I-95 Toll Prohibition. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators B. Newton, Barnes, and Sawrey (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
February 6, 2025
*S61-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE IMPOSITION OF TOLLS ON INTERSTATE 95 FOR TEN 2
YEARS AND TO REQUIRE THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 3
FOR TOLLING INTERSTATE 95 THEREAFTER. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. G.S. 136-89.198 reads as rewritten: 6
"§ 136-89.198. Authority to toll existing interstate highways. 7
(a) General. – Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, and with the exception 8
set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the Authority may collect tolls on any existing interstate 9
highway for which the United States Department of Transportation has granted permission by 10
permit, or any other lawful means, to do so. The revenue generated from the collected tolls shall 11
be used by the Authority to repair and maintain the interstate on which the tolls were collected. 12
These revenues shall not be used to repair, maintain, or upgrade any State primary or secondary 13
road adjacent to or connected with the interstate highways. 14
(b) Method. – The Authority shall establish toll locations on the permitted interstate 15
highway in accordance with federal guidelines. Toll locations shall be erected at or near the 16
borders of the State and at such other locations that are not impracticable, unfeasible, or that 17
would result in an unsafe or hazardous condition. 18
(c) Severability. – If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, the 19
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this section that can be given effect 20
without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are 21
severable. 22
(d) Exception. – This section shall not apply to Interstate 95. The Authority may not 23
collect tolls on Interstate 95." 24
SECTION 2. G.S. 136-89.198, as amended by Section 1 of this act, reads as 25
rewritten: 26
"§ 136-89.198. Authority to toll existing interstate highways. 27
(a) General. – Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, and with the exception 28
set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the Authority may collect tolls on any existing interstate 29
highway for which the United States Department of Transportation has granted permission by 30
permit, or any other lawful means, to do so. The revenue generated from the collected tolls shall 31
be used by the Authority to repair and maintain the interstate on which the tolls were collected. 32
These revenues shall not be used to repair, maintain, or upgrade any State primary or secondary 33
road adjacent to or connected with the interstate highways. 34
(b) Method. – The Authority shall establish toll locations on the permitted interstate 35
highway in accordance with federal guidelines. Toll locations shall be erected at or near the 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 61-First Edition
borders of the State and at such other locations that are not impracticable, unfeasible, or that 1
would result in an unsafe or hazardous condition. 2
(c) Severability. – If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, the 3
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this section that can be given effect 4
without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are 5
severable. 6
(d) Exception. – This section shall not apply to Interstate 95. The Authority may not 7
collect tolls on Interstate 95.Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Authority may not 8
collect tolls on Interstate 95 without the prior approval of the General Assembly." 9
SECTION 3. Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2035. The remainder of 10
this act is effective when it becomes law. 11