Transportation Committee Report – All-Bill Summary 2019

HF 387 repeals two sections of the Code relating to following distance of certain vehicles. Under current law, motor trucks and motor vehicles drawing another vehicle are prohibited from following within 300 feet of another motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle. This bill strikes these requirements and the related penalties.
[4/18: 49-0 (Excused: Guth)]

HF 390 – Required notices of certain aircraft

HF 390 eliminates the requirement for aircraft owners to keep current paper registration certificates on aircraft that have been junked or destroyed by fire or accident. The change was made because aircraft registrations are now checked electronically. The bill removes outdated references to paper aircraft certificates and changes references from “returning certificates” to “providing notice” to the Department of Transportation (DOT).
[4/8: 50-0]

HF 418 – Commercial Driver’s Licenses

HF 418 requires Iowa to comply with federal regulations for commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) or face loss of federal highway funding. Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) must check the national drug and alcohol clearinghouse to determine if an applicant qualifies for issuance, renewal or upgrade. In addition, an Iowa nonprofit corporation that serves as a trade association for Iowa-based motor carriers may be a third-party tester.
[4/8: 50-0]

HF 482 – Traffic Enforcement Officer duties

HF 482 repeals the July 1, 2019, sunset of provisions that allow traffic enforcement officers at the Iowa Department of Transportation to act as peace officers, and specifies their powers, duties and limitations.
[3/14: 43-5 (No: Bisignano, Celsi, Dotzler, R. Taylor, T. Taylor; Absent: Miller-Meeks; Vacant: Danielson)]

HF 499 – School bus exemptions

HF 499 allows new or used vehicles designed to carry 10 passengers, including the driver, and used passenger vans designed to carry 12 passengers, including the driver, to be used as school buses. In addition, pick-up trucks designed to carry nine or fewer passengers, including the driver, may be used as school buses.
[4/25: 50-0]

HF 643 – Driver’s licenses for the deaf

HF 643 allows a deaf or hard-of-hearing person to request that their driver’s license reflect that status on the face of the license when they apply for issuance or renewal. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will adopt related rules. Once marked, the licenses must be noted in the electronic database used by the DOT and law enforcement. The bill also instructs the DOT to work with the Commission of Deaf Services to raise awareness about the ability to request such a mark on a license.
[4/18: 49-0 (Excused: Mathis)]

HF 767 – Alternative-fueled vehicles

HF 767 creates new registration fees for electric and hybrid vehicles and a new excise tax on hydrogen and electric fuel. In light of the increasing use of these vehicles, the Legislature directed the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) to estimate the impact of increased usage of electric, hybrid and other high-efficiency motor vehicles on future revenues to the Road Use Tax Fund. It also required the DOT to evaluate and recommend alternative funding mechanisms or the alteration of existing funding mechanisms to offset decreases in future revenues due to the increased use of these vehicles. DOT produced recommendations with the goal of no net change in revenue, equity and administrative costs. HF 767 is based on recommendations from a DOT report.

Registration Fees – Battery electric vehicles have no internal combustion engine and are propelled exclusively by electricity. Under the bill, battery electric motors will pay an additional registration fee of $65 in 2020, increasing to $130 after January 1, 2022. Plug-in hybrid vehicles will pay a $32 fee beginning in 2020, increasing to a fee of $65 after January 1, 2022. Motorcycles that have a battery electric or hybrid motor will pay an additional $4.50 fee beginning in 2020, with the fee increasing to $9 by January 1, 2022.

Excise Tax – A gallon of hydrogen is 249 pounds. The excise tax will be 65 cents per gallon. Vehicles using hydrogen fuel will have a special fuel sticker from the county treasurer noting that the vehicle takes special fuel. Electric fuel means electrical energy delivered or placed into a battery or other energy source outside the motor vehicle to propel it. An excise tax of two and six-tenths cents per kilowatt hour of electric fuel delivered into the battery will attach at the time of delivery. A person cannot sell or dispense electric fuel unless they hold an electric fuel license.
[4/27: 34-14 (Yes: Republicans, Kinney, Quirmbach; Excused: Lykam, T. Taylor)]

HF 769 – Gross weight of special trucks

HF 769 allows a special truck used for certain farming purposes to increase to a gross maximum weight of 39 tons from the current maximum of 32 tons. The registration fee is an additional $25 per ton between 32 and 38 tons, and an additional $10 per ton between 38 and 39 tons.
[4/26: 49-0 (Excused: Feenstra)]

SF 208 – Increased length for car haulers

SF 208 allows stinger-steered transporters (car hauls) to have an overall length of 80 feet, which brings Iowa into compliance with federal code. Current Iowa law is 75 feet.
[3/18: 48-1 (Absent: Dawson; Vacant: Danielson)]

SF 302 – Automated driving systems

SF 302 allows driverless-capable vehicles to operate on public highways without a human driver physically present in the vehicle if it meets these conditions:

It is capable of achieving minimal risk conditions if a malfunction occurs that renders it unable to perform any dynamic driving task.
It is capable of operating in compliance with the applicable traffic and motor vehicle safety laws that govern dynamic driving tasks.
It is in compliance with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The owner maintains proof-of-financial-liability coverage and carries it in the vehicle.
The vehicle must remain at the scene of an accident, and failure to comply may result in the owner being charged with related code violations.

The bill also authorizes a person to operate an on-demand driverless-capable vehicle network to transport goods and people. Automated driving systems will be governed and regulated by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
[4/17: 48-1 (No: Hogg)]

SF 303 – Replacement drivers’ license

SF 303 – Iowans under 21 carry a vertical driver’s license. Upon turning 21, they are not required to get a new horizontal license until it’s due for a renewal. The bill makes the person eligible to apply electronically for a replacement horizontal license for the unexpired months. The Iowa Department of Transportation will notify the individual prior to their 21^st birthday of their eligibility for the replacement license.
[3/11: 46-0 (Excused: Edler, J. Smith, Zaun; Vacant: Danielson)]

SF 435 –Towable recreation vehicles

SF 435 creates a manufacturer-dealer agreement for non-motorized towable recreation vehicles and is outside the auto franchise section of the Code. It clarifies that both manufacturers and dealers are responsible when consumers have problems or need repairs or replacement.
[3/21: 46-0 (Absent: Bisignano, Celsi, R. Taylor; Vacant: Danielson)]

SF 629 – Excessive-weight vehicle permit updates

SF 629 requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop and implement a single statewide system to receive applications for and issue permits that allow vehicles of excessive size or weight on state and local highways or streets. The DOT will determine, in consultation with local authorities, appropriate routes on which these vehicles can operate. DOT will set a permit fee by rule. Fees must be proportionate to those in Code section 321E.14. DOT must allocate a portion of the fees to local authorities.

The DOT must submit a report to the Legislature by December 31, 2021, on development and implementation of the system.

DOT may issue annual permits authorizing a vehicle or combination of vehicles to transport divisible loads of raw forest products from fields to storage, processing or other commercial facilities. The annual permit fee is $175. A vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a permit is issued may exceed the maximum weights in Code section 321.463 if the gross weight on any one axle does not exceed the limits in Code section 321E.7 (gross weight on any one axle: 20,000 pounds; gross weight on any one tandem axle with at least four tires: 46,000 pounds). Vehicles are prohibited from exceeding size limits in Code sections 321.454 through 321.457. Vehicles are prohibited from traveling on interstates. Permits are valid on non-primary highways if the local authority has approved the route within its jurisdiction.
[4/22: 37-12 (No: Celsi, Greene, Hogg, Miller-Meeks, Nunn, Quirmbach, Schultz, Segebart, Sinclair, J. Smith, R. Taylor, Zaun; Excused: Petersen)]