Section 1. The state is authorized to engage in the construction, improvement, repair and maintenance of public roads, highways, and bridges in the state of Alabama. To this end, and for this purpose, the state is authorized to appropriate funds; and also to issue and sell interest-bearing negotiable state bonds, in an amount not to exceed the sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00) to be issued in such denominations, numbers, and series, and maturing at such time, as may be provided by law; but such bonds shall bear a rate of interest not greater than six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, and shall be sold at a price not less than the par value thereof. Provided, that no bonds shall be issued or sold under this provision to such an amount that the interest thereon will exceed the net amount of vehicle license tax collected for the year preceding the issuance of same, and which is set apart for the payment of interest on said bonds. The state highway commission or highway department shall locate, construct, and maintain highways and state trunk roads so as to connect each county seat with the county seat of the adjoining county by the most direct or most feasible route, or by a permanent road, having due regard to the public welfare, and to connect the county seats of the several border counties at or near the state line with a public road in the border states. Provided, that in counties which are divided into two or more judicial divisions in each of which regular terms of circuit court are held; the places where said terms of court are held shall likewise be connected with each other. It shall be the duty of said highway commission or highway department to equitably apportion among the several counties the expenditure of both money and labor and the time or times of making such investments. Not less than one-quarter of a million dollars of the proceeds of these bonds shall be set aside and expended by the state highway commission in each county in the state. To create a sinking fund for the prompt and faithful payment of the principal and interest on these bonds and for the construction, maintenance, and improvement of such public highways, roads, and bridges, the legislature shall levy a special annual license or privilege tax on all automobiles, and on all motor driven vehicles which may be used on the public roads and highways of this state. Such bonds when issued shall be a direct obligation of the state, and for the prompt and faithful payment of the principal and interest thereon the full faith and credit of the state is hereby irrevocably pledged, and such bonds shall be exempt forever from all taxes of every kind. [Amendment Nos. 9 and 11]

Art. XXA. State roads, highways and bridges -- bond issue. The state is authorized to engage in the construction, improvement, repair and maintenance of public roads, highways and bridges in the state of Alabama. To this end and for this purpose the state is authorized to appropriate funds, and also to issue and sell interest-bearing negotiable state bonds in addition to those already authorized and sold under article XX, as an amendment to the Constitution of 1901, in an amount not to exceed the sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00); to be issued in such denominations, numbers and series, and maturing at such times as may be provided by law; all such bonds shall bear a rate of interest not greater than six per cent per annum, payable semi-annually, and shall be sold at a price not less than the par value thereof. The state highway commission or highway department shall locate, construct and maintain highways and state trunk roads so as to connect each county seat with the county seat of the adjoining county by the most direct or feasible route or by a permanent road, having due regard to the public welfare; and to connect the county seats of the several border counties at or near the state line with a public road in the border state. Provided that in counties which are divided into two or more judicial divisions in each of which regular terms of the circuit court are held, the places where said terms of court are held, shall likewise be connected with each other. It shall be the duty of the highway commission or highway department to equitably apportion among the several counties of the state the expenditure of both money and labor and the time or times of making such investment. Not less than one-quarter of a million dollars of the proceeds of these bonds shall be set aside and expended by the state highway commission in each county in the state. To create a sinking fund for the prompt and faithful payment of the principal and interest on these bonds and for the construction, maintenance and improvement of such public highways, roads and bridges, the legislature shall levy an excise tax, in addition to the levy made February 10, 1923, of two cents per gallon upon gasoline or any substitute therefor, or an adequate license or excise tax on any other motive power used to propel auto vehicles. Such bonds when issued shall be a direct obligation of the state and for the prompt and faithful payment of the principal and the interest thereon the full faith and credit of the state is hereby irrevocably pledged and such bonds shall be exempt forever from taxes of every kind. [Amendment No. 21]

Bonds to pay or retire Alabama bridge commission bonds. The state of Alabama is hereby authorized to issue not exceeding $900,000 aggregate principal amount of bonds for the purpose of paying or retiring prior to maturity, the bonds of Alabama bridge commission (an agency of the state of Alabama) which were outstanding on July 1, 1939. Said bonds shall be general obligations of the state of Alabama, to the prompt payment of the principal of and interest on which the full faith and credit and taxing power of the state are hereby irrevocably pledged, and all of said bonds, together with any other bonds of the state providing for a pledge of said gasoline excise tax which may be authorized by constitutional amendment ratified on the same day as this amendment is ratified shall be additionally secured, without priority of one bond over another, by a pledge of the proceeds of the gasoline excise tax, authorized to be pledged to the highway bonds provided for in the amendment to the Constitution known as article XXA [Amendment No. 21], subject, however, to the prior pledge of said gasoline tax to said highway bonds. The bonds hereby authorized shall bear interest at not exceeding three per centum (3%) per annum, payable semi-annually, and shall be sold at not less than the par value thereof. Said bonds and the interest thereon shall be forever exempt from taxes of every kind. Said bonds shall be issued at such time or times, in such denominations and series and shall mature at such times, not later, however, than fifteen (15) years from the date of issuance, and shall have such other terms and conditions as may be provided by law. [Amendment No. 42]

Bond issue for acquiring, etc., public roads, highways and bridges in conjunction with United States. The state is authorized to appropriate funds, and to sell and issue interest-bearing state bonds, in addition to those heretofore authorized and sold, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $25,000,000 for the purpose of aiding in the acquisition, construction, and improvement of public roads, highways, and bridges in the state; provided, that the proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds issued under the provisions of this amendment may be used only for supplying the state's share of the cost of acquiring, constructing, and improving public roads, highways, and bridges in the state in conjunction with the United States and toward the cost of which funds have heretofore been or may hereafter be allocated to the state under that provisions of any law of the United States now in effect or hereafter enacted. Bonds sold and issued under the provisions of this amendment may be issued at such time or times and in such denominations, numbers, and series, and shall mature at such time or times, and shall have such terms and conditions, as may be provided by law. Said bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates not greater than three per centum (3%) per annum, payable semiannually, and shall be sold at not less than the face value thereof. Said bonds when issued shall be direct general obligations of the state, and for the prompt and faithful payment of the principal thereof and interest thereon the full faith and credit of the state are hereby irrevocably pledged. In addition thereto, there is hereby irrevocably pledged for payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds, pro rata and without priority of one bond over another, so much as may be necessary for said purpose of the proceeds of the gasoline excise tax heretofore pledged for payment of the public road and bridge bonds of the state of Alabama provided for in the amendment to the Constitution of Alabama known as article XXA [amendment No. 21] subject, however, to the prior pledges of said tax for payment of any bonds heretofore issued pursuant to law for which the said tax has heretofore been pledged. [Amendment No. 87]