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

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

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

James Dalton Highway Toll for Oil and Gas Vehicles

This act establishes a toll system on the James Dalton Highway between milepost 413 and milepost 415 near Deadhorse, Alaska, for vehicles transporting oil or gas personnel and goods.

What This Bill Does

Designates part of the James Dalton Highway as a toll road between milepost 413 and milepost 415 near Deadhorse, Alaska.
Requires the department to collect tolls from vehicles transporting oil or gas personnel and goods for maintenance and repair costs.
Exempts vehicles used by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and those not carrying oil or gas related items from paying the toll.
Allows vehicle operators to seek reimbursement from oil or gas companies if they pay a toll, with legal action options available if reimbursement is denied.

Who It Names or Affects

Vehicles transporting personnel or goods for oil or gas development on the James Dalton Highway.
Oil and gas developers, explorers, and producers who may be required to reimburse vehicle operators for tolls paid.
The department responsible for collecting tolls and maintaining highway records.

Terms To Know

explorer: A company or individual involved in searching for oil or gas reserves, as defined by Alaska Statute 43.55.900
producer: A company or individual engaged in the extraction and production of oil or gas, as defined by Alaska Statute 43.55.900

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a vehicle operator fails to request reimbursement within 30 days.
It is unclear how the toll rates will be set and adjusted annually.

Bill History

2026-05-07 Text
(S) Heard & Held
2026-05-07 Text
(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
2026-05-05 Text
(S) Heard & Held
2026-05-05 Text
(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
2026-04-24 2342
(S) REFERRED TO STATE AFFAIRS
2026-04-24 2342
(S) STA, TRA
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