State Watch – June 2025

We know you don’t have time to keep up with all of the bills being considered that may affect your trucking business. That’s why Land Line keeps a close watch on state legislative action around the country.

Here is a roundup of some significant actions from around the country. For a complete rundown of state legislation, visit LandLine.Media.

California

In California, a bill moving through the Assembly is described as providing more flexibility in setting speed limits on state highways. State law requires that speed limits be set based on the 85th-percentile formula.

AB1014 would change the rule to enable Caltrans to reduce speed limits by as much as 5 mph on portions of state highways that are not freeways. The rule would apply to stretches of highway that are identified as needing modification to accommodate pedestrians and other vulnerable users.

Delaware

One bill halfway through the Delaware General Assembly would implement a preemptive ban on driverless trucks.

SB46 would prohibit autonomous trucks exceeding 26,000 pounds from travel on Delaware roadways for testing purposes, transporting goods or transporting passengers without a human driver physically present in the vehicle.

The Delaware DOT would also be responsible for submitting a report evaluating autonomous vehicle technology to the governor by 2030. At that time, the rule could be changed.

Georgia

Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law a two-bill tort reform package.

Issues addressed include inflated medical costs. Georgia law has allowed jurors to see bills sent by hospitals and physicians before insurers bargain costs down.

The new rule allows jurors to see the “sticker price” and out-of-pocket costs.

Seat belt usage is also covered. Juries now are allowed to know whether a plaintiff wore a seat belt. Until now, seat belt information was excluded from the evidence code.

Another enacted change permits a party to move for bifurcation of a trial. The distinction allows for liability to be established before a jury hears evidence detailing the extent of a plaintiff’s damages.

The second component of the two-bill tort reform package is focused on third-party litigation financing.

Litigation funders soon will be prohibited from having any input into the litigation strategy or from taking the plaintiff’s whole recovery. Funding agreements will also be required to be disclosed to the other party in a case.

Illinois

The Illinois Senate voted to advance a bill to the House that is touted to target towing “bad actors.”

Currently, the Illinois Commerce Commission issues fines to violators, but many of the worst offenders ignore penalties and continue operating under new business names.

SB2040 would allow tow trucks with unpaid fines to be impounded. Plates from tow trucks with unpaid fines could also be suspended.

In addition, fraudulent towers would be banned from obtaining new licenses for three years. Tow truck operators would also be forbidden from placing liens on essential personal property left in a towed vehicle.

Kansas

Kansas has enacted a new law targeting third-party litigation financing.

Effective July 1, litigation-funding agreements must be disclosed within 30 days of a legal action or 30 days after execution of a funding agreement, whichever is later. All contracting parties to an agreement must be disclosed to courts.

Any foreign person or “foreign country of concern” providing direct or indirect funding must also be disclosed.

Nevada

A Nevada Senate-approved bill would prohibit autonomous vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or combined weight exceeding 26,000 pounds from being tested or operated on a highway without a human operator present who holds a commercial driver’s license. The driver must be trained in operating and shutting off the vehicle and must be capable of taking immediate manual control if necessary.

SB395 would also apply to buses carrying more than eight passengers.

North Carolina

In North Carolina, a House bill would prohibit the immobilization of a commercial vehicle. The ban would apply to any device such as a boot.

Also covered in H472 are rules for the return of cargo. Specifically, a tower of a nonconsensual tow or government-initiated tow would be required to return any commercial cargo to the truck driver or owner of the cargo.

A trailer swap would be permitted under the condition that a different trailer “is in equal or better condition” than the towed trailer.

North Dakota

One new North Dakota law permits cities and counties to designate and post zones where compression engine brakes are prohibited. Specifically, truck operators are outlawed from using a device “that creates a noise disturbance” in affected zones.

Effective Aug. 1, a city or a county will be required to adopt an ordinance to limit use of compression engine brakes. Any law enforcement can enforce the rule.

A signage requirement to alert truckers of the rule is included. Violators would face $50 fines.

An exception to the rule is included for emergency situations.

Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania House bill covers travel restrictions for oversize and overweight loads.

State law prohibits oversize and overweight loads from operating between sunset and sunrise. Certain exceptions apply.

In urban areas, affected loads are limited to operation between 3 a.m. and sunrise. A load and vehicle must be illuminated with additional lighting on all sides and be accompanied by a pilot vehicle.

HB616 would allow oversize and overweight loads to operate under a permit 24 hours a day.

Tennessee

Tennessee law already prohibits the manufacture, purchase, sale or possession of license plate flippers. Offenders face up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.

A rule revision allows for law enforcement to seize or impound a vehicle with a flipping device, under certain circumstances.

The owner or operator of an affected vehicle, if present, must be given the opportunity to remove the license plate flipper “if it can be removed safely.” Otherwise, the vehicle could be seized or impounded.

Texas

Texas law could soon be revised to cover more vehicles in the state’s move-over protection.

Statute requires drivers to move over or reduce speed to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when passing law enforcement, tow trucks and other official vehicles.

HB3726/SB2126 would add to the protection vehicles stopped on a highway shoulder or adjoining a highway and using hazard lights. LL