HF 2651 (LSB 2723HZ (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2651

BY  COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 531)
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 170)

(COMPANION TO LSB 1383SZ BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to fluid milk products annual permits, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321E.29B, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Notwithstanding section 321E.8, the department permit-issuing authority may issue annual permits for the operation of vehicles or combinations of vehicles transporting fluid milk products to or from a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station, exceeding the weight limitation of section 321.463 but not exceeding a gross weight of ninety-six one hundred thirty-six thousand pounds, on primary roads and primary road extensions in cities.  The department shall establish rules regarding minimum distances for axle configurations.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2027.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) is authorized to issue annual permits for the operation of vehicles or combinations of vehicles transporting fluid milk products to or from a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station while exceeding the weight limitation of Code section 321.463 but not exceeding 20,000 pounds per axle, and not exceeding a gross weight of 96,000 pounds, on primary roads and primary road extensions in cities. The fee for a fluid milk products annual permit is $400.
   This bill strikes the restriction that limits such permitted vehicles to be operated only on primary roads and primary road extensions in cities. As such, the bill authorizes local authorities, in addition to the DOT, to issue fluid milk products annual permits. In accordance with current law, a permit must be issued by the authority responsible for the maintenance of the system of highways or streets on which operating a permitted vehicle is authorized.
   The bill makes fluid milk products annual permits valid for vehicles and combinations of vehicles weighing up to 136,000 pounds. The DOT is required to establish rules regarding minimum distances for axle configurations. The bill does not amend the 20,000-pounds-per-axle weight limit under Code section 321.463.
   The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.