Escambia County officials may soon see more freedom in the use of oil and gas trust funds after members of the Alabama Senate acted on the bill.

A local bill to propose a constitutional amendment allowing Escambia County officials the authority to use oil and gas trust funds for economic development and roads and bridges was passed during the session that ended this week in Montgomery.

The bill was the fourth of 80 local bills up before the Senate on the last day of the legislative session. Voters will get a chance to weigh in on the decision if the amendment passes after Governor Robert Bentley signs the bill.

County officials have said the money could be used as matching funds for road and bridge grants and could possibly be used fo fund economic development incentives for businesses and industries looking to build or expand in the county.