Wrap: The proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit the Transportation Department contracting with a private firm to operate a toll road.

The sponsor is Salem Republican Representative Jason Smith.  He says Missourians would be disrupted by the expensive fees of a toll road.

A lobbyist for Missouri Chamber of Commerce spoke in favor of the resolution during the committee hearing, and there was no opposition to the proposal.

If approved by the legislature, it would require statewide voter approval for the ban to become part of the state's constitution.

Nobody from the Transportation Department testified on the measure. An agency spokesperson said they had no opinion on the bill.

The committee did not vote on the resolution.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ruohan Xu.

Wrap: The proposed constitutional amendment would block the Transportation Department from implementing its plan to make I-70 a privately operated toll road.

Noticeably absent from witnesses testifying on the proposal before the House committee was anyone from the Transportation Department itself.

The governmental relations director for the department is Jay Wundderlich.  He says his agency has no opinion the resolution.

Nobody spoke against the resolution. It would require statewide voter approval to take effect.

The committee took no action on the resolution Tuesday.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ruohan Xu.