MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A bill that would have raised taxes on natural gas wells drilled off the Alabama coast has died in the Alabama Legislature.

The measure supported by Gov. Bob Riley would have raised about $40 million for the state General Fund budget. The biggest oil company on the Alabama coast, Exxon Mobil, opposed the legislation.

The bill sponsored by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, needed to pass the House Tuesday to still have a chance in the remaining two days of the 2008 regular session.

The measure was not on the House’s work agenda Tuesday and no attempt was made to bring it up for debate.