State DOTs devote significant resources to complying with legislative oversight requirements. DOTs must draft and submit numerous reports, participate in legislative hearings, respond to requests for information, and engage in the budget and appropriations process as required. Generally, few or no resources are provided to DOTs specifically to help them meet these requirements. Numerous exceptions to this general rule exist, however. In New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, resources for compliance requirements have been included in the DOT budget or ongoing appropriations, while in Hawaii and Minnesota, required reports or other legislative mandates in some cases have received separate appropriations.
In addition, most DOTs have other resources at their disposal to aid compliance. In many cases, DOT legislative liaisons and legal staff can assist with legislative oversight requirements, as can legislatures' fiscal and legislative analysis offices. Further, in some states such as Texas, the DOT benefits from transportation research programs at state universities that can help to provide transportation-related analytical data.