State Watch – August/September 2021

The majority of state legislatures have wrapped up their work for this calendar year. Here’s our end-of-summer review of bills you found of interest. It’s a roundup of items that governors signed into law in recent weeks and other actions.

Visit LandLine.Media for a complete rundown of state legislation.

Alabama

In Alabama, a change has been made to the state’s left lane law. State law prohibits drivers from hanging out in the far-left lane. A 2019 revision to the rule clarified that while traveling on an interstate it is against the law to stay left more than 1½ miles without completely passing another vehicle.

This year’s revision, HB505, focuses on notifications for the public about the lane use rules. Specifically, the Alabama DOT is required to install signs in regular intervals on interstates.

Colorado

A $5.4 billion transportation funding package signed into law in Colorado includes newly created fees on electric vehicle registrations, fuel taxes, retail deliveries, passenger ride services, and short-term vehicle rentals.

New fees and existing fees also will be indexed to inflation or to the national highway construction costs index.

SB260 includes increased road use fees on gas and diesel purchases. The increases will start at 2 cents per gallon and reach 8 cents per gallon by 2028. An additional fee applied solely to diesel sales initially will be set at 2 cents per gallon and increase to 8 cents per gallon over six years.

Once the fees are fully implemented, they will be indexed to highway construction costs.

Idaho

One new Idaho law legalizes the production, research, and transportation of industrial hemp. Previously H126, the new law allows Idaho farmers to produce industrial hemp. A cap of 0.3% of THC will be imposed.

Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a bill to provide civil immunity for drivers of vehicles who injure someone blocking traffic. The rule stipulates the injured person must have been blocking traffic while taking part in disorderly conduct or participating in a protest without a permit.

Previously SF342, the new law states that drivers who strike a pedestrian must be exercising “due care” at the time of the incident. A court must prove a driver was engaging in “reckless or willful misconduct” to not be covered under the civil immunity protection.

Louisiana

A new law in Louisiana redirects a portion of the state’s vehicles sales tax to a fund for transportation work. The money from car and truck sales raises about $500 million annually.

The revenue now is deposited into the state’s general fund for purposes that include higher education and health care.

Starting in July 2023, HB514 will shift 30% from the sales tax now earmarked for the general fund to a transportation fund for large projects. Two years later the amount is scheduled to increase to 60%.

Once fully implemented, the amount forwarded to transportation is expected to be about $300 million annually.

Maryland

A new Maryland rule covers the use of speed monitoring systems.

Previously HB967, the new law authorizes two speed cameras to be posted on Interstate 83 in Baltimore City. One camera will be posted northbound, and one will be posted southbound on the Jones Falls Expressway.

Violators will face $40 fines. Revenue from fines collected will be used for operation of the cameras and for roadway improvements on the Jones Falls Expressway.

Massachusetts

Local transportation projects in Massachusetts would get a shot in the arm via legislation sent to the governor.

H3903 would finance $200 million in improvements to municipally owned roads and bridges. An additional $75 million would be allotted for three transportation-related municipal grant programs.

Gov. Charlie Baker is behind one bill to add red-light cameras around the state.

The camera provision is part of a larger roadway safety bill, H3706.

Cities and towns would be authorized to install cameras at intersections. Before cameras could be posted, interested communities must hold public hearings and seek approval from local governing boards.

Red-light runners would face $25 fines.

Three more bills limit their focus to authorization of red-light cameras.

Oregon

An omnibus transportation package on the governor’s desk would benefit major road projects.

HB3055 also would permit the state to continue working on a 4-year-old plan to charge tolls on I-205 in the Portland area. Toll collection would be limited. Specifically, the state DOT could only collect tolls to cover costs to add lanes along I-205.

Another bill on the governor’s desk would make permanent the city of Portland’s speed radar program. The program has a sunset date of 2024.

Additionally, HB2530 would extend authorization for speed cameras to all cities with populations of at least 50,000. The change would affect about a dozen locales.

Cameras would only be allowed in areas designated as “urban high-crash corridors.” The classification would cover areas designated as a safety risk by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Texas

A new Texas law focuses on emergency vehicles responding to emergencies.

The new rule in Texas boosts punishment for people who knowingly obstruct emergency vehicles from passing or accessing a hospital entrance.

Starting Sept. 1, HB9 authorizes a felony charge for protesters who block emergency vehicles from passing.

Offenders in the state now face misdemeanor charges for such actions. The new law carries a felony charge with up to two years in prison. Offenders who are sentenced to probation would spend at least 10 days behind bars. LL