State Watch – March/April 2025

Since the first of the year, lawmakers throughout the country have been working to advance their agendas. A portion of those efforts are included on the following pages.

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

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a bill to bring the state in line with a federal truck rule that requires periods of disqualification for certain offenses committed in a passenger vehicle, but only for offenses that occurred after Sept. 30, 2005.

H5139 removed consideration of passenger vehicle offenses prior to that date from the state’s CDL disqualification law.

Truck drivers with more recent offenses will, as before, continue to be subject to all federally mandated disqualification periods.

Also included is a requirement for the RMV to draft regulations to establish guidelines and conditions under which a lifetime disqualification may be reduced to 10 years.

Minnesota

A Minnesota Senate bill would prohibit commercial vehicles from driving in the leftmost lane.

Statute already prohibits travel in the far-left lane for all vehicles. Exceptions to the rule include overtaking and passing another vehicle.

SF699 includes the same exception.

Mississippi

The Mississippi House approved a bill filled with tax cuts as well as the addition of new tax revenue.

HB1 would trim the state’s individual income tax annually until it is completely phased out in 10 years.

Overall, the legislation would net a $1.1 billion tax cut after accounting for the addition of $1.1 billion in other funding changes at local levels.

The state sales tax on groceries would be phased down from 7% to 2.5%. The tax structure on other items would be adjusted to help offset the cuts.

Currently, Mississippi collects a 7% sales tax. Revenue is split between the state and municipalities.

HB1 would end diversions to municipalities. As a result, the full sales tax collected would be applied to the state budget.

Municipalities and counties could recover the lost revenue by adding a general 1.5% local sales tax. Counties would use their portion of revenue for transportation projects.

Additionally, the bill would add a 5% sales tax to state gas and diesel tax collection.

The sales tax collected on fuel sales would increase the 18-cent excise rate by an estimated 13 cents. Revenue would be routed to the Mississippi DOT for road and bridge work.

Missouri

One Senate bill would create a minimum penalty for operating a vehicle in a far-left lane when not passing or overtaking another vehicle.

SB162 would require the Missouri DOT to place signs along major highways that specify the minimum fines for improper use of passing lanes. Additionally, driver training programs in the state would be required to instruct new drivers on the legal use of passing lanes.

Nevada

A Nevada Assembly bill would authorize the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County or any local government within Washoe County to build the state’s first toll road.

AB61 specifies the 13-mile toll road would connect the eastern terminus of La Posada Drive within the city of Sparks to the area near the intersection of state Route 439 and Interstate 80.

Washington

Two Washington bills are of note.

SB5026 would increase the percentage of the vehicle sales tax devoted to the Motor Vehicle Fund by 16.66% yearly through 2031. At that time, it is estimated 100% of the tax would be deposited into the transportation budget.

SB5073 would do the same thing but much quicker. All vehicle sales tax funds would be immediately shifted from the general fund to transportation.

Wyoming

Wyoming House lawmakers voted to advance a bill that would rely on vehicle sales tax to boost transportation revenue.

A 4% sales tax collected on vehicles and trailers now is directed to the state’s general fund. HB33 would instead apply the sales tax to the highway fund. The tax collected on vehicles and trailers would not increase. LL