State Watch – February 2019

Included in this issue’s State Watch you will find the Grassroots Guide on Page 44. The directory is your reference guide for tracking federal, state and local issues important to you.

Here, Land Line rounds up some recent actions at statehouses.

For a complete rundown of state legislation, visit LandLineMag.com.

California

A Senate bill would make forcibly entering a vehicle with the intent to commit theft a crime. State law now requires proof that the vehicle door was locked as evidence of burglary. SB23 would permit evidence that a window was broken as proof of burglary.

Michigan

A new law addresses the state’s following-too-closely rule. Specifically, HB5749 specifies that platooning trucks traveling on a highway would be exempt from the state’s minimum distance following rule.

Missouri

HB241 would require any department or entity providing CDL training to provide “reasonable accommodations” for prospective drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Another bill covers the use of ticket cameras. SB111 includes provisions to require police to notify motorists’ in person who have been charged with traffic violations. Police would have 24 hours to make the notification. The in-person notification requirement would not apply to data and information collected at weigh stations.

Nevada

Two bills filed for consideration during the 2019 regular session are of note. SB48 would authorize all counties to add a tax of up to 5 cents per gallon on diesel purchases. The second bill – SB61 – would authorize the creation of a city diesel fuel tax of up to 5 cents on diesel purchases.

Both bills include a provision for eligible IFTA carriers to receive a reimbursement of the county tax consumed outside of Nevada. Additionally, SB48 would allot a portion of tax collections for truck parking. Specifically, parking areas would be made available for trucks with a gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds.

New Jersey

S2876 would change the formula for setting speed limits. If approved, speeds on limited-access highways, including the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, would be set using the 85th percentile formula.

Pennsylvania

Gov. Tom Wolf has signed into law a bill that covers certain fees for CDL holders. Truck drivers must pay at least $29.50 to get a new CDL to reflect a change of address. Now in effect, the new law waives the fee for address changes that result from government action.

South Carolina

One bill would authorize toll booths on a portion of Interstate 95 to pay for road widening and repairs. S178 would require the state DOT to charge highway users to access I-95 where it crosses Lake Marion in either Orangeburg County or Clarendon County.

A separate bill, S172, would allow voters in coastal counties to decide if they want to collect up to a one penny sales tax on fuel purchases to be applied for beach renourishment, also known as beach replenishment.

Texas

Three bills are of interest. HB153 addresses the use and installation of electronic logging devices on certain large trucks. Specifically, the bill would exempt intrastate operators hauling agricultural goods from the electronic logging requirement.

HB376 would provide the option of a permanent semitrailer token fee. Affected trailers must have a gross weight in excess of 6,000 pounds to qualify for token trailer registration. The annual fee for trailer registration is $15. The bill would permit a permanent license plate for $80.

HB105 would require the state to include information about oversize and overweight vehicles in the curriculum of driver education and safety courses. The bill calls for including methods of safely operating a vehicle near an oversize and overweight vehicle.

Wisconsin

A new law concentrates federal funds into fewer highway projects. SB883 requires – for instances when federal money is used for the largest highway projects, or state-highway rehabilitation with a price tag below $10 million – that at least 70 percent of the funding come from the federal government. A separate provision in the bill shields local projects that receive no federal money from a requirement to comply with state regulations other than design standards. LL