Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB17

Introduced
1/16/25  

Caption

Excepting haulers of grain and certain other agricultural goods from gross weight limitations for vehicles.

Impact

By excluding agricultural goods from certain vehicle weight restrictions, SB17 serves to significantly enhance the operational capabilities of agricultural producers within Kansas. The amended regulations are intended to streamline the transportation process, particularly from fields to storage facilities or markets, which is essential during harvest periods. This change responds to the unique needs of those in the farming sector, ensuring that they can operate more effectively during peak harvesting times without added regulatory stress.

Summary

Senate Bill 17 primarily aims to amend existing traffic regulations pertaining to the size, weight, and loads of vehicles. The bill specifically exempts haulers of grain and other agricultural goods from the standard gross weight limitations imposed on vehicles, allowing for increased flexibility during the critical harvest season. This provision is particularly significant as it enables farmers and transporters to operate larger vehicles without the risk of penalties for exceeding weight limits, thus facilitating the transportation of harvested crops more efficiently.

Contention

Despite the bill's focus on aiding agricultural operations, there are potential concerns about the implications of allowing exemptions from weight limitations. Critics may argue that it could lead to safety issues on highways due to heavier vehicles, potentially increasing wear and tear on roads or leading to higher risks of accidents. There might be discussions around how these changes balance the needs of the agricultural community with broader public safety and road maintenance considerations, highlighting the need for careful implementation and oversight.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2680

Creating a traffic infraction for leaving a child eight years of age or younger unattended in a motor vehicle and providing penalties for violations therefor and requiring the division of vehicles to disseminate information related to the danger of leaving children unattended in vehicles in driver's education materials.

KS SB335

Increasing penalties and creating a crime for injuring or causing death of certain authorized emergency vehicle operators for unlawful passing of stationary authorized emergency vehicle.

KS SB426

Creating a crime for injuring or causing death of certain authorized emergency vehicle operators and establishing penalties therefor and increasing penalties for unlawful passing of stationary authorized emergency vehicle.

KS HB2503

Requiring drivers to proceed with due caution when passing stationary vehicles displaying hazard warning lights and providing a penalty for violation thereof.

KS SB142

Requiring drivers to proceed with due caution when passing stationary vehicles displaying hazard warning lights and prohibiting the use of mobile telephones by individuals under 18 years of age and for everyone in school and construction zones and providing penalties thereof for violations.

KS HB2005

Creating a traffic infraction for operating a vehicle while fatigued.

KS HB2681

Updating the definition of commercial motor vehicle to include gross vehicle weight and defining leaving the scene of an accident in the Kansas uniform commercial drivers' license act.

KS HB2146

Increasing penalties for operating a vehicle at a speed in excess of 30 miles per hour over the speed limit.

KS HB2148

Increasing certain registration and title fees on vehicles for services provided by county treasurers and the division of vehicles, decreasing certain fees related to administrative costs and disposition of such fees and eliminating the division of vehicles modernization surcharge.

KS SB90

Increasing certain registration and title fees on vehicles for services provided by county treasurers and the division of vehicles, decreasing certain fees related to administrative costs and modifying the disposition of such fees and eliminating the division of vehicles modernization surcharge.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.