Substitute Senate Bill No. 186 (sSB186 File No. 245) introduces two significant changes to the current vehicle regulations. The first change is an exemption for electric commercial vehicles, allowing them to exceed the state's vehicle weight limits by up to 2,000 pounds, affecting gross, total axle, total tandem, or bridge formula weight limits. This exemption is in line with federal law and is intended to support the use of electric battery-powered commercial vehicles, which are permitted to exceed the weight limit on the power unit by up to 2,000 pounds, up to a maximum gross vehicle weight of 82,000 pounds. States are required to accommodate this additional weight on interstates and within reasonable access to interstates. The bill specifies that this change will take effect on July 1, 2024.

The second change involves the registration of certain pick-up trucks. The bill amends the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) threshold for pick-up trucks that can be registered as passenger vehicles, increasing it from 8,500 to 8,550 pounds, provided they are not used for commercial purposes. This amendment, effective October 1, 2024, allows pick-up trucks meeting the new GVWR threshold to be registered as passenger vehicles, thereby granting them access to state parkways without the restrictions based on the vehicle's gross weight. The bill includes insertions and deletions to clarify the registration process and fees for these vehicles. The Transportation Committee has recommended the bill with a Joint Favorable Substitute, with a vote of 26 in favor and 10 against on March 18, 2024, and there is no expected fiscal impact from these changes.