House Study Bill 525 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON BEST) A BILL FOR An Act removing the requirement to obtain a permit for vehicles 1 or combinations of vehicles of excessive size transporting 2 divisible loads of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock 3 bedding that meet certain width, height, and length 4 requirements. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 5095YC (6) 88 mo/ns

H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 321.454, Code 2020, is amended to read 1 as follows: 2 321.454 Width of vehicles. 3 1. The total outside width of a vehicle or the load on 4 the vehicle shall not exceed eight feet six inches. This 5 limitation on the total outside width of a vehicle or the load 6 on the vehicle does not include safety equipment on a vehicle 7 or incidental appurtenances or retracted awnings on motor 8 homes, motorsports recreational vehicles, travel trailers, or 9 fifth-wheel travel trailers if the incidental appurtenance or 10 retracted awning is less than six inches in width. 11 2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, the total outside width of 12 a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting a divisible 13 load of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding shall 14 not exceed twelve feet five inches. However, if hay, straw, or 15 stover , or bagged livestock bedding is moved on an implement 16 of husbandry and the total width of load of the implement 17 of husbandry exceeds eight feet six inches twelve feet five 18 inches , the implement of husbandry is not subject to the 19 permit requirements of chapter 321E . If a divisible load of 20 hay, straw, or stover , or bagged livestock bedding is moved 21 on any other vehicle or combination of vehicles subject to 22 registration, the moves are subject to the permit requirements 23 for transporting loads exceeding eight feet six inches twelve 24 feet five inches in width as required under chapter 321E . 25 3. The limitations on the total outside width of a vehicle, 26 the load on the vehicle, or a combination of vehicles set forth 27 in this section do not include safety equipment on a vehicle 28 or incidental appurtenances or retracted awnings on motor 29 homes, motorsports recreational vehicles, travel trailers, or 30 fifth-wheel travel trailers if the incidental appurtenance or 31 retracted awning is less than six inches in width. 32 Sec. 2. Section 321.456, Code 2020, is amended to read as 33 follows: 34 321.456 Height of vehicles. 35 -1- LSB 5095YC (6) 88 mo/ns 1/ 3

H.F. _____ 1. A vehicle unladen or with load shall not exceed a height 1 of thirteen feet , six inches , except that . 2 2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, a vehicle or combination 3 of vehicles coupled together and used exclusively for the 4 transportation of passenger vehicles, light delivery trucks, 5 panel delivery trucks, pickup trucks, or recreational vehicle 6 chassis may operate with a height not to exceed fourteen feet. 7 3. Notwithstanding subsection 1, a vehicle or combination 8 of vehicles transporting a divisible load of hay, straw, 9 stover, or bagged livestock bedding may operate with a height 10 not to exceed fourteen feet six inches. 11 4. This section shall not be construed to require any 12 railroad or public authorities to provide sufficient vertical 13 clearance to permit the operation of such vehicle upon the 14 highways of this state. Any damage to highways, highway or 15 railroad structures, or underpasses caused by the height of 16 any vehicle provided for by this section shall be borne by the 17 operator or owner of the vehicle. 18 Sec. 3. Section 321.457, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended 19 by adding the following new paragraph: 20 NEW PARAGRAPH . p. Notwithstanding any other provision of 21 this chapter, and to the extent allowed under federal law, a 22 vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting a divisible 23 load of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding shall 24 not have an overall length in excess of seventy-five feet. 25 Sec. 4. Section 321E.29, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended 26 by striking the subsection. 27 EXPLANATION 28 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 29 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 30 Current law provides that vehicles or combinations of 31 vehicles transporting divisible loads in excess of the width, 32 length, or height restrictions of Code chapter 321 may only 33 be moved on highways if there is a special or emergency 34 situation that warrants the issuance of a special permit by 35 -2- LSB 5095YC (6) 88 mo/ns 2/ 3

H.F. _____ the department of transportation or permit-issuing authority. 1 However, an annual permit is available for vehicles or 2 combinations of vehicles transporting divisible loads of hay, 3 straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding in excess of the 4 width, length, or height restrictions of Code chapter 321 5 without a finding of a special or emergency situation if the 6 vehicle or combination of vehicles meets certain width, length, 7 and height requirements. Current law also provides that 8 implements of husbandry transporting hay, straw, or stover are 9 not subject to the permit requirements of Code chapter 321E due 10 to the width of the vehicle. 11 This bill eliminates the annual permit allowing a vehicle or 12 combination of vehicles transporting a divisible load of hay, 13 straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding in excess of the 14 width, length, or height restrictions of Code chapter 321 to be 15 moved on highways without a finding of a special or emergency 16 situation. Instead, the bill increases the width, length, 17 and height restrictions of Code chapter 321 for vehicles or 18 combinations of vehicles transporting divisible loads of hay, 19 straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding. Under the bill, 20 vehicles and combinations of vehicles transporting divisible 21 loads of hay, straw, stover, or bagged livestock bedding are 22 allowed to be moved on highways so long as such vehicles do 23 not have an overall width exceeding 12 feet 5 inches, an 24 overall length not exceeding 75 feet, and an overall height 25 not exceeding 14 feet 6 inches. A violation of the width, 26 length, and height restrictions of Code chapter 321 is a simple 27 misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $200. 28 -3- LSB 5095YC (6) 88 mo/ns 3/ 3