HB 615 - SB 596
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
February 23, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Rebecca Chandler | Email: rebecca.chandler@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 615 - SB 596
SUMMARY OF BILL: Adds new safety requirements for vehicles transporting poles, logs,
or timber in single-length that exceed over 75-feet in length by requiring the use of a trailer equipped
with an extendable and retractable rear impact protection device that meets federal safety standards,
or requiring the vehicle to be followed by an escort vehicle displaying an "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign
with specified dimensions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• Pursuant to § 55-7-201(f), vehicles transporting poles, logs, or timber in single-length pieces
that exceed 75-feet in length are required to obtain a permit.
• The proposed legislation amends this provision by adding new safety requirements for
loads exceeding 75 feet, which include: (1) requiring that these loads be hauled by a trailer
with an extendable and retractable rear impact protection device that meets federal safety
standards, or (2) requiring that they be followed by an escort vehicle displaying
“OVERSIZE LOAD” sign with specified dimensions.
• The Department of Transportation (TDOT) currently administers oversize load permits,
and the proposed legislation does not create a new permitting process; it only adds new
requirements for obtaining the permit.
• Additional safety requirements to obtain the permit do not require any additional staffing,
infrastructure, or significant procedural changes for TDOT; therefore, it is not expected to
have a fiscal impact on state expenditures.
• The additional requirements are not expected to meaningfully impact the number of
permits issued each year; therefore, there will not be a significant impact to state revenue.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director