House File 2447 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 2447
BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 611)
(COMPANION TO SF 2143 BY
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION)
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the maximum weight of vehicles powered
2 primarily by natural gas or electric battery, and making
3 penalties applicable.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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 H.F. 2447
1 Section 1. Section 321.463, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code
2 2024, is amended to read as follows:
3 a. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
4 a motor vehicle equipped with an engine fueled primarily by
5 natural gas or a motor vehicle powered primarily by means
6 of electric battery power may exceed any applicable maximum
7 gross weight limit under this chapter, up to a maximum gross
8 weight of eighty-two thousand pounds, by an amount equal to
9 the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable
10 to the natural gas tank and fueling system installed in the
11 vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel fuel tank and
12 fueling system.
13 EXPLANATION
14 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
15 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
16 Current law limits the maximum gross weight of a vehicle
17 based on the highway on which the vehicle is operated and the
18 number of axles and the distance between the axles on the
19 vehicle. Generally, the maximum gross weight of a vehicle,
20 including towed vehicles, is 80,000 pounds when operated on a
21 highway in Iowa. Certain exceptions exist including but not
22 limited to specially permitted vehicles and vehicles with six
23 or seven axles while operated on noninterstate highways.
24 Additionally, a motor vehicle equipped with an engine fueled
25 primarily by natural gas may exceed the standard weight limit
26 and is authorized to weigh up to 82,000 pounds, as long as
27 the vehicle’s excessive weight equals the difference between
28 the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas
29 tank and fueling system installed in the vehicle and the
30 weight of a comparable diesel fuel tank and fueling system.
31 This bill strikes the requirement that the excessive weight
32 be attributable to the power unit substitution and instead
33 authorizes all such vehicles to weigh up to 82,000 pounds.
34 The bill likewise authorizes a motor vehicle primarily
35 powered by means of electric battery power to exceed any
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1 applicable gross weight limit, up to 82,000 pounds.
2 A vehicle that exceeds the allowable weight based on its
3 number of axles and the distance between the axles is subject
4 to a scheduled fine. The scheduled fine ranges from $12 to
5 $2,200 plus 10 cents per pound in excess of 20,000 pounds over
6 the limit.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 321.463