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SB286 • 2026

DALTON HIGHWAY TOLL

An Act establishing a toll for use of the James Dalton Highway by certain vehicles; and providing for an effective date.

Energy Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS BY REQUEST
Last action
2026-05-07
Official status
(S) STA
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill states the legislature 'may' appropriate revenue for repairs, meaning it is not guaranteed that all funds will be used immediately.

SB 286: Toll for Oil and Gas Vehicles on the Dalton Highway

This bill creates a toll for vehicles carrying oil or gas workers and supplies through a specific section of the James Dalton Highway near Deadhorse.

What This Bill Does

  • Designates the road between milepost 413 and 415 as a toll zone.
  • Requires vehicle operators to pay a fee if they transport people or goods for oil or gas companies.
  • Allows the state department to set annual rates that match maintenance costs caused by these vehicles.
  • Exempts vehicles carrying Alyeska Pipeline Service Company items from paying the toll.
  • Lets drivers ask oil and gas companies to pay back their tolls within 30 days.
  • Requires the state to keep toll money in a separate account for highway repairs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Vehicles transporting workers or supplies for oil, gas developers, explorers, or producers.
  • The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
  • Oil and gas companies that may need to reimburse drivers.
  • Drivers who can sue in court if they do not get paid back.

Terms To Know

Toll road
A section of highway where vehicles must pay a fee to pass through.
Explorer or producer
Companies that search for oil and gas or extract it from the ground, as defined in state law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not list specific dollar amounts for the toll rates.
  • The exact start date is set for July 1, 2028, but no end date is included.
  • The text does not explain how drivers will pay or where they must stop to pay.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-07 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  2. 2026-05-07 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  3. 2026-05-05 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  4. 2026-05-05 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  5. 2026-04-24 2342

    (S) REFERRED TO STATE AFFAIRS

  6. 2026-04-24 2342

    (S) STA, TRA

  7. 2026-04-24 2342

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

DALTON HIGHWAY TOLL
An Act establishing a toll for use of the James Dalton Highway by certain vehicles; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB0286A -1- SB 286
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1577\A

SENATE BILL NO. 286

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE BY REQUEST

Introduced: 4/24/26
Referred: State Affairs, Transportation

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act establishing a toll for use of the James Dalton Highway by certain vehicles; and 1
providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 19.40 is amended by adding a new section to read: 4
Sec. 19.40.215. James Dalton Highway toll. (a) The portion of the James 5
Dalton Highway between milepost 413 and milepost 415 near Deadhorse, Alaska, is 6
designated as a toll road. 7
(b) Except as provided under (c) of this section, the department shall collect a 8
toll for passage on the toll road by a vehicle that is transporting personnel or goods for 9
use by an oil or gas developer, explorer, or producer. The department shall annually 10
set toll rates so that the total amount of tolls collected approximately equals the 11
portion of actual maintenance and repair costs for the highway caused by use of the 12
highway by oil and gas developers, explorers, and producers. 13
(c) The department may not charge a toll for a vehicle that 14
34-LS1577\A
SB 286 -2- SB0286A
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(1) is engaged in transporting personnel or goods for use by the 1
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company; or 2
(2) is not transporting personnel or goods for use by an oil or gas 3
developer, explorer, or producer. 4
(d) An operator of a vehicle who pays a toll under this section while 5
transporting personnel or goods for use by an oil or gas developer, explorer, or 6
producer may request reimbursement of the toll from the developer, explorer, or 7
producer. The oil or gas developer, explorer, or producer shall reimburse the operator 8
within 30 days after the operator submits a request for reimbursement. 9
(e) An operator of a vehicle who pays a toll under this section may institute an 10
action in the superior court if an oil or gas developer, explorer, or producer fails to 11
reimburse the operator as provided under (d) of this section. If an operator bringing an 12
action prevails, the operator is entitled to full reasonable attorney fees and costs. 13
(f) The department shall separately account for the revenue collected from the 14
tolls under this section. The legislature may appropriate the revenue collected under 15
this section to the department for maintaining and repairing the highway. 16
(g) In this section, 17
(1) "explorer" has the meaning given in AS 43.55.900; 18
(2) "producer" has the meaning given in AS 43.55.900. 19
* Sec. 2. AS 37.05.146(c) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 20
(87) revenue collected from James Dalton Highway tolls 21
(AS 19.40.215). 22
* Sec. 3. This Act takes effect July 1, 2028. 23