Senate File 527 - Introduced SENATE FILE 527 BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1187) A BILL FOR An Act relating to vehicles of excessive size and weight, 1 including highways and streets upon which movement of such 2 vehicles is permitted and warning lights on such vehicles. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2499SV (2) 90 th/ns

S.F. 527 Section 1. Section 321E.3, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 1 2023, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. (1) The department may issue all-systems permits under 3 section 321E.8 which are valid for movements movement on all 4 paved highways or streets under the jurisdiction of either the 5 state , except the interstate road system if prohibited under 6 section 321E.8 , or those and except any highways or streets 7 under the jurisdiction of local authorities that have indicated 8 upon which an all-systems permit is not valid as determined by 9 the applicable local authority if the local authority indicates 10 such highways and streets to the department in writing, 11 including by means of electronic communication , those streets 12 or highways for which an all-systems permit is not valid . 13 However, a local authority shall not determine that any paved 14 farm-to-market road, or highway or street designated as a truck 15 route, is not valid for purposes of an all-systems permit. A 16 highway or street under the jurisdiction of a local authority 17 upon which movement under an all-systems permit is valid shall 18 connect with a highway or street under the jurisdiction of the 19 state. 20 (2) A local authority that indicates a highway or 21 street upon which an all-systems permit is not valid under 22 subparagraph (1) shall provide a written justification 23 report to the department explaining the local authority’s 24 determination. If the department disagrees with the local 25 authority’s determination, the dispute shall be resolved in 26 accordance with chapter 17A. 27 (3) Notwithstanding a local authority’s determination 28 under this paragraph, a person who is issued an all-systems 29 permit may operate a permitted vehicle over the most direct 30 route between the location where the vehicle is loaded and 31 the nearest highway or street upon which movement under an 32 all-systems permit is valid. 33 Sec. 2. Section 321E.24, Code 2023, is amended to read as 34 follows: 35 -1- LSB 2499SV (2) 90 th/ns 1/ 3

S.F. 527 321E.24 Warning and lighting devices on oversize vehicles and 1 loads. 2 The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A 3 regarding oversize load signs, warning flags, vehicle length 4 warning lights, and projecting-load lights. A vehicle or 5 combination of vehicles with a gross weight or combined gross 6 weight exceeding eighty thousand pounds shall not be required 7 to display warning lights based on the vehicle’s weight, but 8 may otherwise be required to display warning lights based on 9 length, a projecting load, or other factors, as provided by 10 law. 11 Sec. 3. 2022 Iowa Acts, chapter 1076, section 7, is amended 12 to read as follows: 13 SEC. 7. PERMITS —— COUNTY AUTHORIZATION AND INDICATION TO 14 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. On or before July 1, 2025, every 15 county shall authorize vehicles issued a permit under section 16 321E.8, subsection 1A , as enacted in this Act, to operate on 17 all paved farm-to-market roads, highways and streets designated 18 as a truck route, and certain secondary roads and indicate to 19 the department of transportation in writing, including by means 20 of electronic communication, those secondary roads for which a 21 permit under section 321E.8, subsection 1A , as enacted in this 22 Act, is not valid, as described in section 321E.3 , as amended 23 in this Act. 24 EXPLANATION 25 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 26 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 27 Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) 28 is authorized to issue all-systems permits under Code section 29 321E.8 (annual permits) which are valid for movements on all 30 highways or streets under the jurisdiction of either the state, 31 except the interstate road system if otherwise prohibited, or 32 those local authorities that have indicated to the department 33 in writing, including by means of electronic communication, 34 those streets or highways for which an all-systems permit is 35 -2- LSB 2499SV (2) 90 th/ns 2/ 3

S.F. 527 not valid. 1 This bill authorizes the DOT to issue an all-systems permit 2 valid for movement on all paved highways or streets, except 3 the interstate road system if otherwise prohibited, and 4 except those streets or highways on which a local authority 5 has indicated to the DOT that all-systems permits are not 6 valid. A local authority is prohibited from excluding paved 7 farm-to-market roads and highways and streets designated as 8 truck routes. The bill requires a local authority to provide 9 a justification report to the DOT for each street or highway 10 on which the local authority determines an all-systems permit 11 is not valid. 12 The bill requires the highways and streets under the 13 jurisdiction of local authorities upon which movement under an 14 all-systems permit is valid to connect with a highway or street 15 under the jurisdiction of the state. The bill makes changes to 16 Code section 321E.3(1)(b) to enhance readability. 17 Under current law, pursuant to Code section 321E.24, the DOT 18 adopted administrative rules regarding oversize load signs, 19 warning flags, warning lights, and projecting-load lights (761 20 IAC 511.18(3)). The DOT’s rules require vehicles longer than 21 85 feet but not longer than 120 feet, vehicles with a front 22 projection over 25 feet, vehicles with a rear projection over 23 10 feet, and vehicles weighing over 80,000 pounds to display 24 a flashing or strobe amber light that is visible for at least 25 500 feet and provides 360-degree warning, which light must be 26 mounted on the towing unit and be visible from the front and 27 rear. 28 The bill provides that vehicles exceeding 80,000 pounds are 29 not required to display warning lights based on the vehicle’s 30 weight. 31 -3- LSB 2499SV (2) 90 th/ns 3/ 3