SF 643 (LSB 1322SZ (2) 91)

SENATE FILE 643

BY  COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 568)
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1187)

(COMPANION TO HF 1025 BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to certain state highways not designated as part of the interstate road system, including the operation of implements of husbandry on such highways, and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  314.16A  Interstate road designation —— prohibition.
   The department of transportation and the state transportation commission shall not pursue an interstate road designation for the segment of highway that is a controlled-access facility, as defined in section 306A.2, designated as state highway 5 and United States highway 65, including where the highway designations overlap, between interstate 35 and interstate 80, unless the United States government provides an exemption to federal regulations regarding vehicle weight and size on that segment. The federal exemption must authorize any vehicle that is not prohibited from being operated on the segment prior to the date of designation as an interstate road to continue to be operated on the segment after designation as an interstate road.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.285, subsection 5, paragraph e, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   e.  (1)  Any kind of A vehicle, device, implement, or conveyance incapable of attaining and maintaining a speed of forty miles per hour shall be prohibited from using the interstate road system.
   (2)  This paragraph does not apply to an implement of husbandry that a person is authorized to operate on the segment of United States highway 65, and state highway 5, including where the highway designations overlap, between the highway’s intersection with United States highway 6 and the highway’s intersection with United States highway 69, or farther west if authorized by the department, prior to the date that segment of highway is designated a part of the interstate road system, if the segment of highway is designated a part of the interstate road system. The department may authorize an implement of husbandry to be operated on a segment of the highway described above farther west beyond the intersection with United States highway 69. This subparagraph is repealed on the date an alternative route for implements of husbandry is developed, deemed suitable by the department of transportation in consultation with the department of agriculture and land stewardship, and opened for traffic to bypass the segment of the interstate road system described in this subparagraph. The department of transportation shall notify the Iowa Code editor on that date.
    Sec. 3.  ALTERNATIVE HIGHWAY STUDY.  The department of transportation shall collaborate with the Des Moines area metropolitan planning organization as the organization conducts an alternative highway study to develop and implement an accessible highway route suitable for implements of husbandry to be operated alongside, but not directly on, the segment of United States highway 65, and state highway 5, including where the highway designations overlap, between United States highway 6 and United States highway 69.
    Sec. 4.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to the segment of the highway known as United States highway 65, and state highway 5, including where the highway designations overlap, described in this Act on the effective date of this Act, and shall apply to that segment of the highway thereafter regardless of whether the highway’s designation as United States highway 65, or state highway 5, including where the highway designations overlap, is subsequently changed by the state transportation commission, department of transportation, or the government of the United States.
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, any kind of vehicle, implement, or conveyance incapable of attaining and maintaining a speed of 40 miles per hour (MPH) is prohibited from using the interstate road system.
   This bill provides a conditional exception to that prohibition. If an implement of husbandry may be operated on the segment of the highway known as U.S. highway 65, and state highway 5, including where the highway designations overlap (segment), between the highway’s intersection with U.S. highway 6 and the highway’s intersection with U.S. highway 69, prior to the date the segment becomes part of the interstate road system, then the implement of husbandry may continue to be operated on that segment until an alternative route for implements of husbandry is made available. The department of transportation (DOT) may authorize an implement of husbandry to be operated on the segment farther west beyond the intersection with U.S. highway 69.
   Under current law, an “implement of husbandry” means a vehicle or special mobile equipment manufactured, designed, or reconstructed for agricultural purposes and, except for incidental uses, is exclusively used in the conduct of agricultural operations. To be considered an implement of husbandry, a self-propelled qualifying vehicle must be operated at speeds of 35 MPH or less.
   The bill prohibits the DOT and the state transportation commission from pursuing an interstate road designation for the segment extending between the segment’s intersections with interstate 35 and interstate 80 unless the U.S. government provides an exemption from federal regulations regarding vehicle weight and size on that segment, as described in the bill.
   The bill requires the DOT to collaborate with the Des Moines area metropolitan planning organization as the organization conducts an alternative highway study to develop and implement an accessible alternative highway route suitable for implements of husbandry.
   The bill applies to the segment on the effective date of the bill, and will continue to apply to the segment regardless of whether the highway’s designation is subsequently changed.