The State of Alabama
House and Senate committees both passed bills this week that would provide exemptions from intrastate Department of Transportation (DOT) registration for all agricultural and other vehicles up to 26,001 pounds from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations.
An amendment was approved by both committees that specifies the exemptions do not apply to restricted drivers, such as those who have no license or are restricted from operating certain commercial vehicles.
SB 258 is sponsored by Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville. It was assigned to the Senate Commerce, Transportation and Utilities Committee chaired by Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery. That committee unanimously approved the bill (with the amendment). SB 258 now heads for a vote by the full Senate. Nineteen senators are listed as co-sponsors of the bill.
The House version, HB 432, is sponsored by Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre.
That bill has 53 co-sponsors and was assigned to the House Public Safety Committee chaired by Rep. Thad McClammy, D-Montgomery. The House committee unanimously approved the bill (with the amendment). It now heads to the full House for consideration. "Our members made the difference in getting support for these bills and getting them passed out of committee," said Federation Executive Director Mike Kilgore. "Our members have met with and called legislators from throughout the state. The support the bills received in both chambers of the Legislature is evidence that a grassroots campaign works."
The new DOT regulations were scheduled to be enforced July 1, 2006, but Gov. Bob Riley delayed the implementation until Jan. 1, 2007, then again until April 1.
With the deadline approaching, pressure is mounting for the governor to extend the deadline for a third time, this time to a period long enough for the proposed law to take effect, should it pass.
This week, Rep. Terry Spicer, D-Elba, introduced HR 216, a resolution formally asking the governor to postpone enforcement of the regulations until exemptions are approved by the federal government. The resolution was assigned to the House Rules Committee.
Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., weighed in on the issue this week as well. In a letter to Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry A. Newby, the congressman said he supports efforts by the Alabama Legislature to pass the exemption laws.
"The overall intent of this policy is to regulate large tractor-trailers that deliver cargo and other heavy agricultural machinery, not multi-purpose vehicles such as pick-up trucks," Aderholt said in his letter. "Both SB 258 and HB 432 will help clarify these regulations regarding small vehicles and alleviate an expensive and unnecessary burden on farmers."
House and Senate committees both passed bills this week that would provide exemptions from intrastate Department of Transportation (DOT) registration for all agricultural and other vehicles up to 26,001 pounds from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations.
An amendment was approved by both committees that specifies the exemptions do not apply to restricted drivers, such as those who have no license or are restricted from operating certain commercial vehicles.
SB 258 is sponsored by Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville. It was assigned to the Senate Commerce, Transportation and Utilities Committee chaired by Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery. That committee unanimously approved the bill (with the amendment). SB 258 now heads for a vote by the full Senate. Nineteen senators are listed as co-sponsors of the bill.
The House version, HB 432, is sponsored by Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre.
That bill has 53 co-sponsors and was assigned to the House Public Safety Committee chaired by Rep. Thad McClammy, D-Montgomery. The House committee unanimously approved the bill (with the amendment). It now heads to the full House for consideration. "Our members made the difference in getting support for these bills and getting them passed out of committee," said Federation Executive Director Mike Kilgore. "Our members have met with and called legislators from throughout the state. The support the bills received in both chambers of the Legislature is evidence that a grassroots campaign works."
The new DOT regulations were scheduled to be enforced July 1, 2006, but Gov. Bob Riley delayed the implementation until Jan. 1, 2007, then again until April 1.
With the deadline approaching, pressure is mounting for the governor to extend the deadline for a third time, this time to a period long enough for the proposed law to take effect, should it pass.
This week, Rep. Terry Spicer, D-Elba, introduced HR 216, a resolution formally asking the governor to postpone enforcement of the regulations until exemptions are approved by the federal government. The resolution was assigned to the House Rules Committee.
Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., weighed in on the issue this week as well. In a letter to Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry A. Newby, the congressman said he supports efforts by the Alabama Legislature to pass the exemption laws.
"The overall intent of this policy is to regulate large tractor-trailers that deliver cargo and other heavy agricultural machinery, not multi-purpose vehicles such as pick-up trucks," Aderholt said in his letter. "Both SB 258 and HB 432 will help clarify these regulations regarding small vehicles and alleviate an expensive and unnecessary burden on farmers."
