State Watch – December 2021/January 2022

As the new year approaches, OOIDA is focused on providing truckers with information on important legislation during the coming year.

In the next few months, state lawmakers from all corners of the country will rapidly add to the list by offering new bills.

Not all of them will be covered on these pages, but readers will be able to find many bills of significance to their trucking business. Here’s our roundup of noteworthy issues addressed by governors in recent weeks and the latest activity on other notable efforts.

For a complete rundown of state legislation, visit LandLine.Media.

California

A new law in California is touted to allow cities to prioritize safe speed limits.

The state observes the 85th percentile speed rule – the speed at or below which 85% of vehicles travel in free-flowing traffic. Speed limits must be rounded to the nearest 5 mph.

AB43 gives the state flexibility to round down the 85th percentile speed when necessary.

The legislation authorizes a local authority that finds the speed limit is “more than reasonable or safe” to reduce the speed limit by 5 mph by ordinance. The affected roadway must be designated as a safety corridor that generates high concentrations of vulnerable roadway users, as defined by the California Department of Transportation.

Michigan

A Michigan Senate bill package is intended to maximize road funding that comes from the federal government.

The first bill, SB465, would allow local road agencies to participate in a federal aid swap with the state.

According to the Michigan DOT, local road agencies see an estimated 20-30% cost increase to meet federal standards, such as bidding and reporting. However, the state DOT estimates it incurs a 10-15% cost increase to comply with federal requirements.

The disparity is attributed to state operations that are more suited to handle the administrative federal requirements than smaller municipalities.

SB466 would use state funds to replace the federal dollars directed to MDOT under SB465.

A bill package moving through the House would provide reciprocity for timber haulers who must cross the state’s border into Wisconsin. The first bill, HB4978, would exempt certain timber haulers from the International Fuel Tax Agreement.

The second bill, HB4977, would allow the Michigan Department of Treasury to set fuel tax reciprocity agreements with other states. Specifically, the agency would permit the transport of raw forest products within 30 air-miles of the state border.

One more bill, HB4976, would exempt affected interstate carriers from the collection of streamlined sales and use tax under fuel tax reciprocity agreements.

One Senate bill addresses ticket quotas. Since 2010, state law prohibits a police officer from being required to issue a certain number of citations for traffic offenses. However, an exception provided in the law authorizes ticket numbers to be used as part of a police officer’s evaluation system.

The lone requirement for inclusion of the ticket writing component is that the issuance of citations is not given any greater consideration than any other factor in the evaluation of an officer’s performance.

SB599 would revise statute to prohibit a police officer’s performance evaluation from including any consideration of citations issued.

New Jersey

A Senate bill is intended to simplify obtaining or renewing an operator’s license.

S3718 would require the state Motor Vehicle Commission to provide certain vehicle and licensing services in each of the state’s 21 counties.

Currently, vehicle services are available in 15 counties, and licensing services are available in 12 counties. There are seven counties with vehicle and licensing services available.

Pennsylvania

House lawmakers have advanced a bill that covers a truck weigh system. HB1410/SB827 is touted to add Pennsylvania to a truck weigh system already in use in nearly all states.

The legislation would direct the Pennsylvania DOT to establish an electronic weigh station bypass system for trucks moving across the state.

A bill in the Pennsylvania House covers the bonding requirement for highways and bridges.

Pennsylvania law allows municipalities to require vehicles in excess of 10 tons to apply for a permit and to post a bond to ensure that any damage caused to the roadways will be repaired.

HB1517 would allow the state DOT to publish a revised schedule of bonding amounts for affected vehicles based on an increase or decrease in maintenance costs. LL